Only 3.0pc published news focus on children
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
FE Report
Only three per cent of total news published in Bangladeshi newspapers and two per cent broadcast on television channels focus on children although they constitute 45 per cent of the total population, said a recent study.
The study revealed about 14 per cent of child-related news relates to in-depth reporting while media allot very little space for children.
It also said tendency of Bangladeshi media is to sensationalise and highlight violence, affecting children in a negative way and government policies related to children are grossly ignored by them.
These key findings were disseminated at a seminar on Ethical Reporting on Children and launching of handbook on Ethical Reporting on and for Children at a city hotel Tuesday.
Principal investigator Qurratul-Ain-Tahmina presented the research findings on the Baseline Study on Children in Bangladesh News Media while Dhaka University vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddiqui was present as the chief guest at the seminar.
UNICEF representative Carel de Rooy and MRDI executive director Hasibur Rahman also spoke among others on the occasion with journalist Manzurul Hasan Bulbul moderating the event.
The study was jointly conducted by the UNICEF and Management Resources Development Initiative, which performed content analysis, literature survey of 12 national dailies -- 10 Bengali and two English dailies and three television channels and random sample scrutiny, questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD).
Monitoring of media including national BTV for three months showed that children make news when they die and the coverage is event-based, often cursory, which has very little follow-up or continuity of coverage while governance or policy issues related to children coverage is zero per cent.
"The study helps us get a clear picture of the way that the media reports on children and identifies the gaps that need to be addressed," said Carel de Rooy.
He said lack of media coverage on child issues emphasises that something needs to be done to ensure a more balanced coverage.
Arefin Siddiqui said the objectivity and ethics of journalism should be same and children should be given due position in the society to ensure priority and attention in media.
"Children have right to privacy, dignity, honour, and we should think about our responsibility towards them. They deserve more than what we provide them," said the DU VC.
About 30 per cent reports had shortcomings in basic journalistic requirements such as authenticity, comprehensive truth seeking, weak sourcing and 20 per cent lacked clarity in case of newspapers while for television the ratio was 92 and 84 per cent.
Out of 126 newspaper coverage on child-related issues like sexual harassment 13 per cent mentioned the victims name while 33 per cent mentioned identity so much in detail that anyone can identify the child.
Case studies showed negative stereotyping linked to discrimination against children living in poverty or in difficult situations and portrayals of 'street children' as Tokai, using terms as 'criminals' or 'killers' while reporting on children in conflict with the law.
The speakers stressed the need for change in attitude of the society towards children and properly address children's issues in media protecting their personality, dignity, honour, safety and security.
Media professionals were urged to adopt a code of conduct for reporting on issues related to children and to practice ethical journalism, especially self-regulation and voluntary system of media accountability.
Only three per cent of total news published in Bangladeshi newspapers and two per cent broadcast on television channels focus on children although they constitute 45 per cent of the total population, said a recent study.
The study revealed about 14 per cent of child-related news relates to in-depth reporting while media allot very little space for children.
It also said tendency of Bangladeshi media is to sensationalise and highlight violence, affecting children in a negative way and government policies related to children are grossly ignored by them.
These key findings were disseminated at a seminar on Ethical Reporting on Children and launching of handbook on Ethical Reporting on and for Children at a city hotel Tuesday.
Principal investigator Qurratul-Ain-Tahmina presented the research findings on the Baseline Study on Children in Bangladesh News Media while Dhaka University vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddiqui was present as the chief guest at the seminar.
UNICEF representative Carel de Rooy and MRDI executive director Hasibur Rahman also spoke among others on the occasion with journalist Manzurul Hasan Bulbul moderating the event.
The study was jointly conducted by the UNICEF and Management Resources Development Initiative, which performed content analysis, literature survey of 12 national dailies -- 10 Bengali and two English dailies and three television channels and random sample scrutiny, questionnaire survey and focus group discussion (FGD).
Monitoring of media including national BTV for three months showed that children make news when they die and the coverage is event-based, often cursory, which has very little follow-up or continuity of coverage while governance or policy issues related to children coverage is zero per cent.
"The study helps us get a clear picture of the way that the media reports on children and identifies the gaps that need to be addressed," said Carel de Rooy.
He said lack of media coverage on child issues emphasises that something needs to be done to ensure a more balanced coverage.
Arefin Siddiqui said the objectivity and ethics of journalism should be same and children should be given due position in the society to ensure priority and attention in media.
"Children have right to privacy, dignity, honour, and we should think about our responsibility towards them. They deserve more than what we provide them," said the DU VC.
About 30 per cent reports had shortcomings in basic journalistic requirements such as authenticity, comprehensive truth seeking, weak sourcing and 20 per cent lacked clarity in case of newspapers while for television the ratio was 92 and 84 per cent.
Out of 126 newspaper coverage on child-related issues like sexual harassment 13 per cent mentioned the victims name while 33 per cent mentioned identity so much in detail that anyone can identify the child.
Case studies showed negative stereotyping linked to discrimination against children living in poverty or in difficult situations and portrayals of 'street children' as Tokai, using terms as 'criminals' or 'killers' while reporting on children in conflict with the law.
The speakers stressed the need for change in attitude of the society towards children and properly address children's issues in media protecting their personality, dignity, honour, safety and security.
Media professionals were urged to adopt a code of conduct for reporting on issues related to children and to practice ethical journalism, especially self-regulation and voluntary system of media accountability.