Seminars: Interviewing childrenFORMAT 60/90 minute discussion-based Seminar led by students, which should Practical Exercises on children’s rights and interviewing techniques: TOPIC / SUBJECT / THEME Interviewing techniques and problems PURPOSE (Journalistic and children’s rights messages you hope to communicate)
OUTCOME / RESULT (What you expect the students to have learned)
ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION (Measuring success, for you and for the students)
RESOURCES (Equipment and materials needed for implementation)
Students should be handed these a week n advance and asked to bring the completed Questionnaire to the Seminar clearly marked with their name HANDOUTS
IMPLEMENTATION (How the session will be delivered) 1. Introduce the session with some observations about a problematic TV, radio or print interview dealing with a sensitive child related topic (Sex, drugs, crime, disability, ethnicity etc) behaviour 2. Ask students at random to read out their responses to the questions and exercise set the week previously. 3. After each contribution, ask other students how their responses differed and encourage discussion and challenges. Try t get through the answers to as many of the questions as possible. 4. Collect in students’ Questionnaires for marking. QUESTIONNAIRE What have you learned about interviewing children? Please complete all the questions in writing, marking each sheet of paper clearly with your name, and bring the completed Questionnaire to the forthcoming seminar, 1) In what circumstances would you interview a child without an adult’s permission? 2) What questions should you be asking yourself if a parent or a guardian volunteers an interview with a child? 3) Would you only interview children in the presence of a guardian? 4) How would you go about interviewing a physically or mentally disabled child? 5) Is it fair to publish a picture of a severely disabled child? 6) In what circumstances would it not be appropriate to ask a children ‘How do you feel’? 7) Is it fair to ask a blind child about difficulties/deprivations in her/his life? 8) How would you make a child feel at ease when asking difficult questions? 9) How would you avoid asking children ‘manipulative’ questions? 10) Can children’s opinions ever be taken seriously? 11) What would you do if you felt a child you were interviewing was only giving answers s/he thinks are expected of her/him was showing off and exaggerating? lying? telling stories or expressing opinions the significance of which s/he was not mature enough to appreciate? 12) A. Write a letter of complaint from an official or a member of the public about the publication of an interview with a child with physical or mental disabilities. B. Then write a response from an editor answering criticisms and justifying publication of the story.
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