Presented by Media Monitoring Africa in conjunction with Wits Journalism, this course aims to challenge the common representation of children and their issues in and by the media, as well as open up new possibilities for alternative representations. It will allow participants to develop practical strategies in the development of a human rights centred approach to reporting on children and will allow participants to integrate the learnings and experience of other journalists and experts into the way in which they report children's stories. The course runs full time over two weeks.
Course on Reporting on Children in the Media
Reporting on Children presents many legal and ethical challenges. The Media constantly has to navigate their way through the murky ethical waters and fight against a general lack of knowledge and sensitivity when reporting on children.
Certificate Course – Reporting on Children in the Media – Block Release (10 days)
4th of July – 8th July and 18th of July – 22 July 2011.
The representation of children by the media is often in violation of the very children’s rights that they vow to protect. This Module aims to challenge the common representation of children and their issues in and by the media, as well as opens up new possibilities for alternative representation of children. In exploring how children are represented, this Module ensures that new skills are acquired and demonstrates how children’s rights can be respected in the media whilst ensuring journalism of the highest quality.
The purpose of this Module is to:
~ give participants confidence and skills when reporting on children;
~empower participants with knowledge and skills in children’s rights, ethics and the law surrounding children;
~ help participants to identify and follow best practice when reporting on children;
~build the expertise of participants by providing them with both the theory and practical input in this area;
~help participants with their writing skills;
~ contribute to the creation of an ethical media and human-rights centred approach to children’s reporting;
~ advance the creation of a media that not only values but reflects the diversity of opinions, including the opinions of children.
Outcomes: this module will equip participants to:
~access experts (in a wide field) as well as children to ensure a diverse and informed perspective on issues that affect children;
~integrate the learnings and experience of other journalists and experts into the way in which participants report children’s stories;
~identify and unpack the effect that poor media coverage of children can have on children and their issues;
~develop practical strategies when reporting on children and ensure a human rights centred approach to their reporting;
~present events in terms of issues and human interest to engage journalists;
~write clearly and effectively on children’s issues.
Assessment:
The Certificated Course is a Block Release Course and presented as a series of Seminars. Participants are required to attend 100% of Seminars and contribute to class discussions. Accreditation requirements are:
1) To submit a Mini-Assignment of not more than 1500 words (20% of Mark)
2) To submit a practical Portfolio of Work (already in existence or created for the Course) (40% of Mark), which will be externally moderated.
3) Submit a Final Written Assignment of not more than 5000 words (40% of Mark), which will be externally moderated.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: Wits Journalism on tel: +27 11 717 4028 or by email on journinfo@wits.ac.za
Website: http://www.journalism.co.za/ or here
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