The media is not well equipped to report ethically on children’s issues, which results in children’s voices and diverse stories being underreported in the media.
Children and the public lack digital and media literacy skills to become active digital citizens and face increased harm online.
Journalists across Africa are trained, empowered and capacitated towards a greater understanding of children’s rights and ethical standards thereby reducing instances of child rights violations in the media and an increase in news reporting that is in the best interest of children.
Children and the public are trained on critical digital and media literacy skills so they stay safe online, acquire essential digital literacy skills and at the same time are able to promote and encourage their peers towards the safer and proper use of the internet.
Journalists that participate in our training have good journalistic skills/practice ( this means that they are able to report ethically, including children’s diverse issues and voices in the media).
Children and adults that attend our training gain digital and media literacy skills and are able to actively participate in democratic decision-making processes.
Ensure that the media report on diverse stories about children and include their voices in the media. Children and the public are more equipped with digital and media literacy skills and can participate in democratic decision-making processes.
Web Rangers is a digital and media literacy programme designed to allow children to gain critical skills and knowledge around online safety and media literacy, which they use to create innovative campaigns that promote safe internet usage and champion their rights in the digital world.
Web Rangers are between the ages of 12- 17 years old from semi-urban and township regions. Today the project has trained over 1800 Web Rangers and reached approximately 10 000 indirect beneficiaries. The programme has created a movement of young people across the country who, through their knowledge and skills are able to create innovative campaigns that bring awareness about online safety issues, engage meaningfully with policy formulation and bring about positive change in the online world.
Web Rangers enjoys financial support from:
Article 12 is a project born under the Web Ranger umbrella and empowers young people with specific skills and knowledge related to the development of public policy within the ICT and media sector. It also provides a platform for children to engage meaningfully in national discussions and processes that will ensure that their voices are heard and participation prioritized.
Through Article 12, children’s opinions and perspectives are included in policy discussions and submissions by giving children an opportunity to engage meaningfully and critically in policy formulation. The name of this project is derived from Article 12 of the United National Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which states that “ States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child” Some of our amazing work with Article 12 Working Group include ( Web Rangers Digital Rights Charter) and Web Rangers’ sexual offence submission on the discussion paper on sexual offences (Pornography and children)
The Isu Elihle Awards were launched in 2016 by MMA, with the support of Save the Children International, the Swedish International Development Agency and Media Network on Child Rights Development (MNCRD) based in Zambia. Since 2020, the awards have been funded by UNICEF. “Isu Elihle ” is an isiZulu phrase and could be translated into English as a beautiful, great or simply a neat solution.
As the name suggests, the awards aim to encourage alternative thinking around reporting on children and to contribute to an environment that enables journalists to expose and highlight issues affecting children in the country and the continent. The awards seek to contribute to a change in attitudes and behaviours of opinion and decision-makers and citizens across the country and continent from the premise that the media frames debates in society and carries enormous influence and, therefore, the ability to drive positive change.
Reporting on Children in the Media is an Honours level, accredited certificate course offered by MMA in partnership with Wits School of Journalism. It also counts towards an Honours Degree in Journalism at Wits.
This course aims to:
