UNICEF encourages child-friendly print media
by Lyndon Plantilla, PIA

Volume V, Number I, June 2005 Issue

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urged publications and journalists to use their medium for creating child-friendly environments.

In the recent Child-Friendly Newspaper and Journalist Awards, UNICEF Country Manager Nick Alipui said newsprint has an edge over other media and will continue to shape public opinion in the future.

“You can hold it in your hands, read and re-read [it] as needed.  Newspapers are information sources and their messages sink in.  They shape views,” said Alipui.

According to him, although progress has been made in advocating children’s rights and discussing children issues – such as those made by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and the Association of Broadcasters – there are still obstacles along the way.

Citing a 2002 Philippine Children’s Television Foundation study, Alipui said that around 70% of news about children by top two national broadsheets are focused on crimes committed against them.

He said the barrage of sensationalized stories about child victims desensitize the public to the conditions that give rise to child abuse and violence against children.

This is precisely the reason why activities such as the UNICEF-Philippine Press Institute Child-Friendly Newspapers and Journalists Awards, exist.  It aims to raise awareness on issues concerning children’s welfare.

Running on its fourth year with assistance from the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication and the Philippine Information Agency, the award recognizes national and community publications, journalists, and child writers who promote awareness of child rights and children’s issues in their communities or workplaces.

Alipui encouraged newspapers to give young people, especially child writers, more opportunity to write about themselves because the inclusion of more young voices in their pages will drum up more support for their cause.