Central Asian Forum
April 23-27, 2012
JOURNALISM PRACTICE
Michael Foley
The duty of the journalist is the same as that of the
historian – to seek out truth, above all things, and to
present to his readers not such things as statecraft
would wish them to know but the truth as near as
he can attain it.
John Thadeus Delane, February 7, 1852, The Times
“The central purpose of journalism is to provide
citizens with accurate and reliable information
they need to function in a free society."
Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel,
The Elements of Journalism
Not only does the press have the task of imparting
Such information and ideas (ie of public interest) the
public also has a right to receive them. Were it otherwise,
the press would be unable to play its vital role of public
watch dog.
Ruling of the ECHR 1995
• Journalists are not cheer-leaders for UNICEF
• Journalists are not cheer-leaders for the
UNCRC
• Journalists do hold governments to account
• Do cover that which is in the public interest
Modules specific sections covering:
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Interviewing skills
Human rights
Child rights
Children in Conflict
Trafficking
Anonymity and identity protection
Sources
Guidelines and Regulations
Approach
• Learning by doing
• Understanding rights
• Looking at news stories relating to children
• Newswriting and ethics
• Using codes of practice
• How to find stories
Questions the module material should raise in
class
Can I take a child’s picture?
Can I interview a child?
How are children affected by my story?
Can a child be a source of information?
Will a child’s story be believed?
Will my story put a child in danger?
Children’s Health and
Welfare.
Arts 6,24,26 and 27
Story Ideas
Study carefully official statistics
• Mortality rates.
• Levels of preventable diseases
• Look for patterns in the figures.
• High incidence of birth problems
Children’s Health
Mass immunisation programmes
Maternity and paediatric services.
Availability of treatments such as
bone marrow transplants etc
How are children with HIV/AIDS
treated?
Children with terminal illness.
The child’s environment and how
schools are educating
Children about health and other
issues.
Do children have the necessary
information to make informed
Decisions concerning their own
health and welfare?
Class Discussion
Is the journalism accurate?
How have you applied statistics?
Will the coverage help an understanding of the illness?
Does it give information allowing a child affected to seek help
and is that the journalist’s duty?
Other issues
Miracle cures,
Vested interests.
Consequences of a story
Photography and images.
Outcomes
• Better understanding of applied ethics.
• Able to apply codes of conduct.
• Able to handle sensitive stories.
• Able to find stories with an interesting angle.
• Able to reflect the full community in stories, adults and
• Children and their different perspectives.