Reporting on Children in the Media

Name: Nkosinathi S. B. Mkhize

Course: Reporting on Children in the Media Final Assignment

Due Date: Monday, 26 September 2011

Word Count: 5, 707

Question 2:

The essay will compare and contrast the the Star, Sowetan, and the Times coverage of the Jules ‘rape’ case over a three week period by analysing: 1) the ethical issues raised 2) the legal issues raised by coverage 3) issues of child participation and children’s voices among other issues.

Abstract

The way in which the media frames or represent children has a significant impact on their rights. The coverage of the Jules High School ‘gang rape’ case has raised questions over the media’s responsibility to protect children and promote their rights. The handling of the Jules case by the media also led to questions being raised in terms the effectiveness of legislation that aims to protect children like section 15 of the Sexual Offenses Act; which treats consensual sexual acts between children as criminal and other legislation pertaining to children. The essay will compare and contrast the Star, Sowetan and the Times coverage of the Jules ‘rape’ case by analysing: headlines, placement, story angles and view points, sources, language and visual images.

Contents Page

1. Introduction 3

2. Ethical issues raised 3

3. Legal issues raised by the coverage 5

4. Issues of child voices 7

5. Theoretical framework 8

5.1 News selection 8

5.2. Framing 10

5.3. Portrayal 11

6. Analysis 13

6.1. Headlines 15

6.2. Placement 16

6.3. Story angles and view points 17

6.4. Sources 17

6.5. Language and visual images 18

7. Conclusion 19

8.

References: Boyden J. “Children under Fire: Challenging Assumptions about Children’s Resillience.” Children, Youth and Environments Vol 13 (1) 2003 “Children’s Rights and the Media” (2000): A resource for Journalists Child Care Act, 1983 (No. 74 of 1983) Criminal Law (Sexual offenses and related matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No Criminal Procedure Act of 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977) Editorial Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Children in the Media (2008) Entman R, (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51-58 Fortin M Fortunato J. A. (2005). Making media content, the influence of constituency groups on mass media. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Pg. 46-67 Harris R Media Professionals and Children’s Rights (2005). A Handbook of Media and Children’s Rights. MediaWise and UNICEF Date retrieved: 15:08:2011 “Putting Children in the Right” (2002) United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Available on: http://www.childrensrights.ie/files/UNCRC-CRC1989.pdf Date retrieved: 15:08:2011 “Use of youth Stereotypes: youth stereotyping in the media and its impact” (2010)