Child Shares His Joyful Story
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) commends News24 for their article, “How low can you go? Bicycle stance culture giving youths new forms of expression” (02/01/2025), written by Ditiro Selepe.
The story highlights 15-year-old Jimmy Nkosi from Tembisa, Johannesburg, who has turned his bicycle into a unique form of self-expression. Using his pocket money, Jimmy purchased and customized his bike, making it a central part of his lifestyle and identity.
This inspiring story not only showcases creativity and individuality but also emphasizes the positive ways young people can channel their passions. Well done to News24 for shining a spotlight on such an uplifting narrative.
MMA has nominated this article as a GLAD[1] of the week because it highlights the voice of a child, giving them the platform to express their passion. Jimmy Nkosi is provided with an opportunity to share his love for riding a bicycle, aligning with Articles 12 and 13 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which South Africa ratified in 1995.[2] These articles promote children’s right to freedom of expression.
The journalist quotes Jimmy saying, “Riding my bicycle makes me feel so good. I love it.” This allows readers to hear directly from the child, emphasising his perspective.
Additionally, the story stands out by extensively accessing the child as the central figure. Unlike many stories where children are the focus, but their voices are overshadowed by adults, this article ensures that Jimmy’s perspective remains front and centre. The newspaper deserves commendation for maintaining this balance and avoiding the common pitfall of over-relying on adult voices, ensuring the child’s spotlight is not diminished.
MMA’s Editorial Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Children in the Media, advise reporters to always strive to “challenge negative stereotypes about children and conventional roles children to occupy in the media (such as helpless victims) whenever [they] can. Negative stereotypes about children are especially damaging and should be actively challenged whenever possible. Children’s achievements must also be given due recognition in the media.”[3] This story is the perfect example of challenging stereotype and showing that children can also inspire adult.
MMA encourages News24 to continue providing children with the space to shine.
Written by Musa Rikhotso
Edited by Ntombifuthi Kubeka
[1] A GLAD is awarded to the media for reporting on children where the children are accessed etc.
[2] https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
[3] https://mma-ecm.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/mma_editorial_guideline.pdf