News
- Children’s Views Not in the News
For Immediate Release 15 December 2009
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), as part of its Empowering Children and the Media (ECM) strategy, today released its research results of selected print media’s coverage of children and children’s rights in the news.
The report reveals that children, children’s rights and their issues are afforded very little coverage in the South African media. The latest data to emerge from the ECM reveals that representation of children has improved, marginally, to 8.4% (from 6% in 2003) of all news monitored in 2009. MMA Director, William Bird, said, “The marginal representation is damning, considering that figures from Stats SA show that children account for around 37 to 40% of South Africa’s population. Not only does this mean that the core issues of such a substantial portion of our population are not being covered, but it also highlights the media’s failure to seize a great opportunity to attract younger readers.”
- Political opinion has no age limits
The Media Monitoring Project (MMP) is deeply troubled by the incorrect and misleading statements made by Tommy Ntsewa in his Viewpoints piece, “Political opinions should be voiced after the age of 18” (City Press, October 12 2008).
- Media challenges Divorce Act in the Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court has reserved judgment on a ban prohibiting journalists from reporting on divorce cases.
Earlier this year, the Cape High Court ruled that Section 12 of the Divorce Act was unconstitutional after media group Johncorn (now Avusa) brought an application challenging it.
Read the full article that appeared in The Star on September 09, 2008.
- Rights of children cited in Divorce Act application
The Media Monitoring Project (MMP) says it agrees with the Sunday Times that a section of the Divorce Act limits freedom of expression and is unconstitutional, but says the aim of protecting the privacy of children of divorcing parents is also important.
- Reporting Children in the Media
The MMP and Wits are running a course for again in 2008 on children and the media. Previously, MMP partnered the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism to conduct the course. Read how it went.
With each child’s voice that is heard in the media, there is a strong possibility that not only that child will become a reader or viewer, but also that that child’s parents, caregivers, friends and relations will also become readers or viewers.
- Complaint against Daily Voice resolved
The Media Monitoring Project filed a complaint against the Daily Voice about the coverage of children in a child pornography feature. We also highlighted this case of bad coverage and launched a petition against it. The Daily Voice approached MMP for a settlement to the complaint. The settlement compels the Daily Voice to:
- Ensure that the children get counseling,
- Submit its protocol on publication relating to children to the MMP and to Child Line for contributions,
- Participate in the course for journalists, “Reporting Children in the Media” presented by MMP at Wits University.
The agreement is presented here as it was sent to the Press Ombudsman.
- Complaint to Press Ombudsman against Daily Voice
The Media Monitoring Project has made a complaint to the Press Ombudsman against the Daily Voice, a Cape Town tabloid about an article related to a child pornography ring.
- Addressing the state of the media
Following President Mbeki’s state of the nation address, the Media Monitoring Project (MMP) would like to add the following state of the media in South Africa observations. In line with the MMP’s mandate we looked at a number of human rights issues and their relationship to the media. These include press freedom, race and racism, gender, HIV and AIDS, children, and the local government elections.
- Media Monitoring Project’s Wishlist for the Presidents State of the Nation Address
Dear Mister President,
We at the MMP submit the following wishes for the State of the Nation Address on Friday.