Media Release17 August 2022

Reporting on children in the media course launches to strengthen journalism on child rights issues

JOHANNESBURG, 17 August 2022 – Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) launched the ‘Reporting on Children in the Media Course’ in Johannesburg today. The accredited journalism course brings together 12 practicing journalists, from a range of media agencies, on a journey of interactive seminars that aim to deepen their reporting skills in the best interest of children. The course also includes open sessions for journalists, or interested persons, to take part in critical discussions targeting key issues in reporting on children.“The course really equipped and empowered me as a journalist. It gave me knowledge and skills which you don’t always receive in media school.It helped me to see issues from a different point of view, and all the speakers were so knowledgeable about the different topics we tackled. I believe every journalist should be exposed to this course for the betterment of the journalism fraternity,” said Nomvelo Masango, a RCM 2021 participant.The course, in exploring how children are represented, will work with journalists to developnew skills and to demonstrate how children’s rights can be respected in the media, whilstensuring journalism of the highest quality. Journalists will be challenged to question thecommon representation of children and their issues, as well as open their outlook to newpossibilities for alternative representations.“This year in addition to a blended learning approach the reporting on children course willseek not only to equip the limited group with critical skills to report children ethically and intheir best interests, and not only link the participants to top experts on children we are alsohoping to change the lives of those who do the course. There will be mentorship’s and ahands on practice and working with children ensuring that the few who get to do it will beable to immediately shift practice,”William Bird, Director at Media MonitoringAfricaNotes to editors:For more information on the course please go to:Click hereCourse highlights will also be shared on social media platforms, @MediamattersZAFor further information, please contact:Phakamile Madonsela, Media Monitoring Africa, Tel: 011 788 1278,phakamilek@mma.org.zaAbout MMAMedia Monitoring Africa‘s vision is a responsible, quality media that enables an engagedand informed citizenry in Africa and across the world. MMA aims to promote thedevelopment of a free, fair, ethical and critical media culture in South Africa and the rest ofthe continent. To achieve MMA’s vision, the three key areas that MMA seeks to addressthrough a human rights-based approach are: media ethics, media quality and mediafreedom.For more information about MMA and its work for children visit www.mediamonitoringafrica.orgFollow MMA on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube