The MADOAT Website: Open communities promoting change in media representation of children

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The MADOAT Website Open communities promoting
change in media representation of children

• Presentation to
• SANGONeT ICT Conference 2006

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Introduction to MMP

• MMP works to improve media coverage related to
  key human rights issues including
• Gender
• Children
• Race
• Poverty
• HIV/AIDS

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Introduction to MMP

• We do this by
• Media monitoring projects and research results
• Media policy submissions
• Media relationship building and capacity building
  of media practitioners
• Advocacy writing media updates about good and
  bad coverage

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Why Children?

• Children are afforded special protection
• International Convention on the Rights of the
  Child
• South African Constitution Section 28
• Office of the status of the child Presidency
• Policies and laws
• All people have a special responsibility to look
  after children.

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Why Children?

• Where do we see them in the media?

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They only show bad things that happen to
children. They never speak about good things that
we do as children.
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MAD

• Media violations of childrens rights to dignity
  and privacy
• Children have great news value, but news does not
  value children
• Minimal response to complaints.

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Why MAD?
Why MAD?
Why MAD?

• A child is violated in the media you, I,
  everyone gets mad!!!!
• What can we do about it?
• What can you complain about?
• Who do you complain to?
• How do you complain?
• Individual vs. Mass action
• Perception of mother grundies

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MAD

• Processing Complaints
• Print media Press Ombudsman
• Broadcast media BCCSA
• Press code of conduct is weak on children
  broadcast codes are better

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MAD

• Press Ombudsman
• Recent complaint on identity of a child being
  revealed
• The question whether or not The Star contravened
  S154(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act by naming
  Mrs Engelbrecht's daughter does not fall to be
  answered here, as it is a criminal matter for the
  courts to decide.
• Perception of mother-grundies.

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What do we do?
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Open Communities Technology Expert Civil
Society Action

• Time to get MAD
• Make Abuse Disappear

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MAD Specifics

• MMPs research showed children
• Under-represented
• Represented as extreme victims
• 1 in 10 - human rights violated in abuse stories
• Voices are not heard.

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Child violated
Child experts
Individual complaints
MADOATS website
No action
Coverage changes
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• Difficult stories need to be reported but
  children must also be protected
• Children recognise the role media play in
  highlighting important issues

I think it is good to have these articles about
abuse and rape as then grown-ups are made aware.
Mothers can warn their children. They will be
more careful about sending them out at night in
the dark.
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MAD Making it happen
Rights violation
Great story
Get MAD
Get happy
Submit complaint
Submit compliment
Response
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MAD

• Positive Action
• Collective response from experts
• Challenge poor performance
• Applaud best practice
• Ask the children.

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Children
Editor
Child experts
Website
Ombuds
Media
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MAD

• What do we need from you?
• Your ideas about who we disseminate and encourage
  participation
• You to GET MAD and go to www.getmad.co.za

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What we want

• Participation of children as sources and in news
  making process
• Broadening representation of children in roles
  and stories
• Including a greater diversity of children
• Addressing gender and racial imbalances
• Specialised child-focused training for
  journalists and media practitioners

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Thank You Sandra Robertssandrar_at_mediamonitoring.o
rg.za