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In their reports on the victims of the train crash that occurred last week near Moscow and resulted in six deaths, several TV channels showed videos with minors without protecting them. Thus, they violated the requirements of the Code of professional ethics and the guidelines for journalists, according to which the minors’ identity must be protected when covering negative events.
The Pro TV channel showed a detailed report about a minor whose mother died in the train crash. The images had not been blurred; moreover, the journalist discusses the situation with the child and provokes him to speak about his mother’s death. The report can be viewed here:
http://protv.md/video/stirile-pro-tv-de-la-ora-20-00-cu-cristina-gheiceanu-22-05-14/562671
Similar reports were broadcast by other televisions, too.
Prime TV: http://www.prime.md/rom/video/recent/item2017/#main
Canal3: http://www.canal3.md/rus/video/other/item1541/
By broadcasting such materials, journalists violated the provisions of the Code of professional ethics and the guidelines on the journalistic materials with minors in negative situations. Thus, article 4.13 of the Code of professional ethics says: “A journalist shall protect the identity of minors involved in negative events (accidents, crimes, family conflicts, suicides, etc.), including as witnesses.” According to article 4.14 of the Code, “the identity of minors shall be disclosed only if the public interest prevails or if identification is done for the best interest of the minor.”
Also, according to the Moldovan Guidelines of good journalistic practices on protection of minors in mass media, the right to non-disclosure of identity is guaranteed to every minor involved in negative events, regardless of whether they are victims, culprits of witnesses.
“Journalists are not always aware of the fact that disclosure of identity and sensationalized approach to events might cause damage to minors and that their subsequent psychological rehabilitation might take a long time,” the Guidelines say. The book also contains the following recommendation: “Show more responsibility and professionalism in covering topics that involve minors in extreme situations, so as not to cause them more suffering and not subject them to more risks.”
The fundamental principle in interviewing children, promoted by UNICEF, is in tune with the principle of “do not harm.” And the main challenge for a reporter working on topics concerning children is to interview a child whose wellbeing is affected, say the Guidelines of good practice concerning reports on children.
“If a child answering a journalist’s questions relives traumatizing moments and suffers because of it, then the reporter’s actions may be qualified as abuse. […] It is not illegal to interview a child under 16 years of age, but most of the times it is unethical. It refers to what is called informed consent,” the same Guidelines say.
Source of photo: www.libertatea.ro, http://edu-news.ro
