Media centre

Seminars: Representing children

FORMAT

90-minute Seminar led by the Tutor, using a Powerpoint presentation to impart information and generate discussion

TOPIC / SUBJECT / THEME

How children are represented in the media

PURPOSE (Journalistic and children’s rights messages you hope to communicate)

to encourage critical analysis
to introduce the notion of media monitoring
to consider the journalist’s role in creating and perpetuating stereotypes

OUTCOME / RESULT (What you expect the students to have learned)

ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION (Measuring success, for you and for the students)

· Tutors should note and pass comment on the contributions made by students at the seminar.

· By setting simple media monitoring exercises the tutor will be able to assess the research, analytical and critical abilities of the students. The results produced by students could be incorporated into Powerpoint presentations for future reference.

RESOURCES (Equipment and materials needed for implementation)

Powerpoint presentations

Children as seen by the media
The media as seen by children

The slide shows produced by MediaWise focus on UK media and some international examples. It would be best if more local examples were added, especially one some media monitoring has been carried out.

· HANDOUTS:

Reporting Children Principles
International Federation of Journalists Guidelines

IMPLEMENTATION (How the session will be delivered)

1. Before showing the slides, make the following points:

As media professionals we have special responsibilities. The way we represent or portray children in the media has an important influence. It can define people’s attitudes, change public opinion and affect decision-making about children’s issues.
The way we include children in our coverage is just as significant as the way we exclude them. Our choice of topics, interpretation of issues, methods of presentation, selection of images and use of words can all have a lasting effect on our (adult and juvenile) audiences.
Too often, journalists take the easy route. We fall into the trap of exploiting the emotional appeal of children — allowing popular myths (that we help to create) predominate over the subtleties of reality.
Too often coverage of children is superficial. We portray children’s issues using simplistic words and phrases. We concentrate on symptoms — because they make a ‘good story’ — while root causes takes second place because they are more difficult to explain or make newsworthy.
It is our job to clarify/ simplify complex issues but there are dangers in over-simplifying things if it gives rise to false assumptions or misinformation

2. Now show Children as seen by the media

Encourage discussion by asking

· Can you recall similar examples from the Georgia media?

· What do you think media professionals could do to portray children more accurately?

3. Distribute: IFJ Guidelines

4. Ask these questions

How do you think children perceive the media?
What do they think about the way they are portrayed?
What changes or improvements would they like to see?

5. Now show The media as seen by children

Encourage discussion by asking

· How can media professionals include a child’s perspective?

· What can we do to give children a voice?

· How can we improve the representation of children in the media?

6. Distribute: Reporting Children Principles

7. End the Seminar by setting follow-up exercises which students could undertake in self-selected groups, for example.:

Devise simple media monitoring exercises to encourage students to analyse critically

radio and TV schedules,
magazine and newspaper content,
advertising directed at or involving children
promotional material from child-related state bodies and NGOs.

http://www.mediawise.org.uk/

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