News coverage about children carries a social responsibility. It can either protect young people or put them at further risk. Good reporting hides identifying details, prioritises the child’s recovery and access to help and holds the necessary authorities to account without turning the victim’s traumas into a spectacle. That way the public stays informed, and the children’s dignity is upheld. The following News24 pieces are examples of this careful, rights-based approach.
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) awards News24 a GLAD[1] for reporting that protects children’s dignity while advancing public interest. The recognition is for two stories- Limpopo teen and mother set to appear in court for the alleged rape of his 9-year-old sister” (24/08/2025), written by Cebelihle Mthethwa and “Trapped and traumatised: 16-year-old boy survives brutal stabbing, night in pit toilet” (22/08/2025) written by Sithandiwe Velaphi . Both these articles demonstrate a commitment to ethical journalism. In each case, News24 did not identify the young victims, prioritised their safety and recovery over sensational details and presented the facts in a respectful tone.
The coverage highlights steps toward accountability and informs readers without causing further harm. In the Limpopo story, News24 rightly centred the community and institutional response instead of the survivor. The piece records how community members alerted police, how the case was registered and transferred to the specialised Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, and the subsequent arrests and court steps. They also refrain from naming or providing identifying detail about the nine-year-old survivor and focus on protecting her privacy, reducing the risk of secondary harm and supporting the child’s dignity while reporting on the progress of the criminal investigation.
Similarly, in the Eastern Cape article, News24 conveys the seriousness of the stabbing and the family’s distress while preserving the 16-year-old victim’s anonymity. The story records the swift arrest of an alleged 17-year-old suspect, the emergency medical care the victim received, and the psychological support being deployed in the school community. Reporting the facts of the incident, the institutional response, and the availability of support services, without naming the injured child, is the perfect balance of ethical reporting.
In line with Section 28(2) of the South African Constitution[2], the Criminal Procedure Act (s154(3)) [3], and Articles 16[4] and 39 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)[5], News24 sets a strong example of how media can protect vulnerable individuals while still fulfilling its public duty.
Written by Nthabiseng Mahlangu
Edited by Ntombifuthi Kubeka
[1] GLAD – A recognition by Media Monitoring Africa for media stories that report on children in a responsible, ethical and rights-respecting manner.
[2] Section 28(2), Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996): “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.” Available: https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/chapter-2-bill-rights#28
[3] Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, s154(3): Prohibits publication of information that could identify a child involved in criminal proceedings. Available: https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1977-051.pdf
[4] UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Articles 16: Article 16 protects children’s privacy and reputation. Available: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
[5] UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Article 39: Article 39 obliges States to ensure physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of child victims in environments that promote dignity and self-respect. Available: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child