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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
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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: • 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 DiscussionIs 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 issuesMiracle cures, Vested interests.Consequences of a storyPhotography 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.