Young children and the media: Resources for journalists

Young children’s issues are often poorly understood in media coverage, if they are covered at all. With the growing influence of the news media around the world, it is more important than ever before that journalists understand what matters to young children.

It is not the role of the media to make policy – but it is their role to give citizens and voters a rounded understanding of the issues about which policy decisions need to be made. The more sensitive journalists are to children’s issues, the better policies for children should ultimately result.

The Bernard van Leer Foundation is working to engage with journalists through initiatives such as the Oscar van Leer Fellowships. On this page we suggest resources for journalists who are interested in developing more expertise about reporting on issues or stories affecting children.

• A one-page listing of reliable online information sources on data about children.
• Panos UK have an eight-page briefing note for journalists on understanding and communication research findings about development issues.
• UNICEF and Dublin Institute of Technology have produced a syllabus entitled Children's Rights and Journalism Practice: A Rights-Based Perspective
• UNICEF press centre has principles for ethical reporting on children
• With UNICEF's support, the South African organisation Media Monitoring Project produced a guide called All sides of the story: Reporting on children, a journalist's handbook, together with A Resource Kit for Journalists.
• Produced by the Children's Rights Alliance of England and endorsed by the country's National Union of Journalists is Another perspective: How journalists can promote children's human rights and equality
• MediaWise, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced this resource: The Media and Children's Rights;
• Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma have factsheets on Children and Media Coverage of Trauma, Covering Children & Trauma, and Tragedies & Journalists: a 40-page guide to help journalists, photojournalists and editors report on violence while protecting both victims and themselves.
• The US National Child Traumatic Stress Network has published Childhood Traumatic Grief: Educational Materials, recommendations for journalists who cover childhood trauma.
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence have a 30-page guide to Covering Domestic Violence: A Guide for Journalists and Other Media Professionals
• From Save the Children Sweden, a set of workshop notes - Guidelines on interviewing children;
• The Child Rights Information Network's media toolkit includes guidelines for journalists.
• Journalists in Peru can consult the BvLF-funded Ifunded Infobarómetro de la Primera Infancia.