CeceYara Child Advocacy Center and the Street Project Foundation (SPF) have launched the Ethical Media Reporting Guidelines, a toolkit to guide media professionals on the reporting of child domestic workers in Nigeria.
The guideline was developed as part of Nigeria Hotspot Program – Addressing Exploitative Child Domestic Work, funded by the Freedom Fund, as a gift from the US Department of State.
While speaking at the launch of the guideline, Damilola Adenusi, Head of Programmes, Cece Yara Child Advocacy Center, shared that the guideline has been developed to improve positive reportage of issues regarding child domestic workers.
Stressing that the media determines how the public understands the issue, Adenusi noted that “responsible reporting can expose hidden exploitation, influence attitudes, drive policy action and encourage reporting and intervention.”
Adenusi explained that the guideline was jointly designed by media practitioners, child-protection stakeholders, survivors, and frontliners.
He thereafter urged journalists to utilise the guideline and place the safety, privacy and dignity of children at the centre of their reporting.
Earlier, Eduvielawhe Olutimayin, Chief Operating Officer, Street Project Foundation, shared that the five core principles of the guidelines are: do no harm, protect identity, tell the truth, dignity and empowerment, and accountability.
Speaking on the importance of the guidelines and the five core principles, Olutimayin stressed that the consequences of irresponsible reporting may not always be immediate.
“The harm might not be in the immediate present, but in the future,” she added. “A child should not be identifiable permanently, should not be criminalised,” Olutimayin said.
She also urged journalists to ensure that reports do not end with the arrest but to intensify follow-up, and ensure that the story teaches the public that the practise is not normal.
In attendance at the launch were representatives from implementing partner organisations, media professionals and communication scholars.
