All Resources
- Identifying child witnesses subjects them to further trauma
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A number of articles published in different newspapers identified a child witness following a story widely reported in the media, involving a father who killed his young daughter and committed suicide thereafter. The articles are therefore selected as Mad Oat Mads.
- State of the Media - Presentation at Sanef
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William Bird, director of MMA, gave a presentation at a Sanef’s summit, which focused on issues of media freedom.
- Plain language version of the Protection of Information Bill (Open Democracy Advice Centre)
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If you want to know more about the Protection of Information Bill, check out this Plain Language version of the Bill, drawn up by the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC). Well done to the ODAC for coming up with such a user friendly guide!
- Saturday Star’s reporting is empowering
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“Look at me, ma, I’ve got my new legs on,” (Saturday Star, 07/08/2010, p. 5) was selected as a Glad for proving that there is always a positive side to children who have been victims of traumatic experiences.
- Submission to Department of Communications (DOC) on the ICASA Amendment Bill
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Media Monitoring Africa registers its concern over the relatively short time period for submissions. Given the importance and scope of the Bill, not just in terms of the issues it seeks to change but also that if implemented it would impact every person in South Africa, and given that there has not yet been a policy review process we believe the short period has prevented:
- Proper, broad-based meaningful consultation with members of the public
- In-depth debate and discussion on the various changes
- The development of clear alternatives to some of the issues provided.The move by the Department of Communications to amend the policy governing ICASA is an exciting and invigorating moment for South Africa. It is of fundamental importance to ensure that all South Africans participate in shaping our “independent” regulator’s future. Especially given the history of its formation, and creation as critical to democracy and media independence. In addition, the role of “independent” regulation in this new digital era is critical to ensuring that all citizen’s needs are catered for, and not just a select few, with higher LSM’s for instance.
- Powerful images published by The Times and Sowetan uphold children’s rights
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“Four-year-old cruelly slashed” (The Times 20/07/2010, p. 5) and “School pregnancy shock” (Sowetan, 21/07/2010, p. 7) gave MMA reasons to be glad. While the articles in The Times and Sowetan were not perfect, the photographs published alongside them were examples of how images of children do not have to violate their rights to be powerful.
- Child Safety Measures during the World Cup – how did we do?
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“There was no money set aside (by government) for the protection of children.”
(Gyan Dwarika, Social Work Advance Specialist: Child Exploitation, Department of Social Development)
With children on extended holidays for the duration of the World Cup, there were concerns that the sporting event brought with it new threats and risks in terms of children’s safety. Children from Saxonwold and Naturena Primary Schools in Johannesburg wanted to find out what was done to keep children safe during the World Cup, how effective they had been, and what role the media had played!
- The Citizen reinforces racial stereotypes
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The Citizen’s article “World Cup blasts: toll tops 74” (The Citizen, 13/07/2010, p. 10) has given Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) many reasons to be mad. The report identified a child, used an extremely graphic photo of dead victims, and reinforced racial stereotypes.
- The Star can fly its flag high for accessing children
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The Star’s “Flag-bearers thrilled to be part of it all” (12/07/2010, p.7) gets a Glad for interviewing four child flag-bearers about their experiences.
- Reuters and The Times portray children poorly
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The Times gets a Mad for publishing a photograph that negatively stereotypes abandoned children and infringes on their rights to privacy and dignity.
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