Practical Exercise: Interviewing Children 2A selection of tasks (questions and exercises) which students could be asked to complete in writing following training sessions on children’s rights and interviewing techniques:1) How important is it to obtain permission of parents/guardians? 2) In what circumstances would you interview a child without an adult’s permission? 3) What questions should you be asking yourself if a parent or a guardian volunteers an interview with a child? 4) Would you only interview children in the presence of a guardian? 5) How would you go about interviewing a physically or mentally disabled child? 6) Is it fair to publish a picture of a severely disabled child? 7) Is it always appropriate to ask children ‘How do you feel’ questions? 8) Is it fair to ask a blind child about difficulties/deprivations in her/his life? 9) 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. Then write a response from an editor answering criticisms and justifying publication of the story. 10) How would you make children ‘at home’ when asking difficult questions? 11) How do you avoid asking children ‘manipulative’ questions? 12) Can children’s opinions ever be taken seriously? 13) 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? © The MediaWise Trust
|
