Children deserve to be heard, seen, treated, and represented with dignity and care. However, the media continues to write rather about them than spoken to, leaving the stories that directly impact their lives unheard and unnoticed.
The Daily Sun missed an opportunity[1] to access children in a story that directly affects their daily lives and education.
The article titled, “Scholar taxi strike forces pupils to miss school,” (16/10/ 2025), reports on the suspension of scholar transport services in the Eastern Cape, which left thousands of pupils stranded and unable to attend school. The story includes statements from the Eastern Cape government, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), and the Mdantsane East London Taxi Association (MELTA).
While the article commendable highlights the impact of the transport shutdown and the government’s concerns about its effect on learners, it fails to include the voices of the pupils most affected. Hearing from children who are forced to walk long distances or who are missing important school days, especially during exam preparations, would have provided a fuller picture of the real human cost of the strike.
According to UNICEF’s Principal No. 4[2] on ethical reporting involving children, journalists should respect and promote a child’s right to participation by including their views in matters that concern them, provided it is done safely and with consent. The principle is formulated in Article 12:1 which states that “States parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the rights to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the view of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child”.
Including children’s voices not only strengthens the story but also upholds their rights and ensures that media coverage reflects their lived realities.
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) encourages The Daily Sun to continue reporting on issues affecting children and to prioritise accessing their perspectives in future stories. Doing so not only enriches storytelling but also contributes to a more inclusive and child-centred media environment where every voice is acknowledged and respected.
Written by Siphokazi Pikoko
Edited by Ntombifuthi Kubeka
[1] A missed opportunity is a story that would have made a great story had all elements of ethical reporting and/or best journalism practice been adhered to.