Children still lacking visibility in the Zambian media

By Chrispin Sinyangwe

All forms of media play an important role towards the development of children. Child participation in the media is cardinal as it allows children to express their views on issues affecting them. Since 2011, the Media Network Child Rights and Development (MNCRD) has embarked on equipping the media and children with skills to cover child rights and development issues in Zambia. Despite all efforts being put in stories on children only catered for 9 % of all stories broadcast during the period monitored.

Results from the 2012 Media Monitoring Report, showed that children covered in the media were mostly portrayed as victims. Forty five percent of stories portrayed children as victims. This indicates a significant increase from 27 percent in 2011 and the increase in reporting on girls was due to the increase of child abuse stories.”

 "Children are sometimes covered in the media but are mostly portrayed as victims, having their opinions almost never heard. It is important for children to take part in media activities to enable them air out their own opinion”, said 14 year old Mwiza Zulu. MNCRD Projects Manager Prisca Sikana expressed sadness at how children had been neglected by the media."Their stories have been looked upon as irrelevant; the only stories considered as news worthy is in the negative. On the part of electronic and print media, not enough space is given to children,” said Ms Sikana.

A former child television presenter, Brian Phiri expressed sadness at how children are only given one day in a week to air out their views on television by some television stations.  “Even though, children do all the programmes on that day, freedom of expression is still hindered as children are told what to do and say”, he adds.

 Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), Executive Secretary Patson Phiri said the organisation has set up a desk to sensitize the general membership and encourage them to cover issues affecting children.

“The capacity to write and report on children’s issues is lacking among journalists in the country. They should be able to interpret issues affecting children in the country and make them interesting in the eyes of the reader.” He lamented.

The Media Monitoring Report is produced by MNCRD and Media Monitoring Africa yearly with the support from the European Union and Save the Children International.

The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.