Journalism with Care:
A Module on Ethical Reporting on Children
About
“Journalism with Care: A Module on Ethical Reporting on Children” was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Mass Media and Health to strengthen responsible, child-centered reporting and communication practices in Sri Lanka.
The module provides practical, context-specific guidance for journalists, editors, broadcasters as well as digital content creators, and communication professionals on reporting issues involving children in a manner that is accurate, ethical, and rights-based. It emphasises the importance of safeguarding children’s dignity, privacy, and safety, while ensuring compliance with national legislation and international child rights standards. Importantly, it encourages reporting that portrays children as individuals with agency; recognizing their perspectives, experiences, and voices as meaningful and deserving to be heard.
Key thematic areas include obtaining informed consent, protecting children’s identities, avoiding sensationalism and harmful stereotypes, responsible use of images and language, and preventing re-traumatization through media coverage. The module also addresses ethical considerations when reporting on sensitive issues such as health, emergencies, violence, and exploitation involving children.
To ensure inclusive access and wider uptake, the module is available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.
