State-level dialogue on Media and Child Protection, organised by Prodigals’ Home in collaboration with Mission Vatsalya stressed on responsible reporting in child protection systems
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DIMAPUR — The media, as a partner in child protection, must take responsible reporting beyond withholding the identities of minors by investigating failures in child protection systems, highlight gaps in services, question institutional negligence and demand accountability, said Diethono Nakhro, Founder and Director of Khrieto Nakhro Foundation, on Saturday.
Nakhro was speaking at the State-level dialogue on Media and Child Protection, organised by Prodigals’ Home in collaboration with Mission Vatsalya, Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland, at Hotel Saramati.
The media plays a vital role in a democratic society by informing the public, questioning the authority, exposing injustice and holding those in power accountable, but it comes with responsibility, particularly when reporting involves children, she said.
Asserting the need to maintain a balance while reporting about minors, she said that in a state like Nagaland, where communities are closely connected through family, clan and village identities, even details about a child's school, village or family circumstances can reveal their identity, but privacy must not become an excuse to silence legitimate reporting or shield perpetrators and institutions from scrutiny, she stated.
She went on to say that children with disabilities face the same risks of abuse, violence, neglect, exploitation and discrimination as other children; that reporting such abuse and accessing justice may involve additional barriers but their experiences must be heard, understood and taken seriously.
Reporting on disability must also move beyond narratives of pity, helplessness, and tragedy, she said, emphasising the importance of focusing on access to protection, reasonable accommodations, and institutional accountability.
Nakhro also stressed the importance of questioning harmful practices and encouraging positive social change, stating that tribal identity, customary practices and culture must never become a reason to overlook discrimination or violations of children's rights.
‘In today's digital environment, stories can be copied, shared and circulated indefinitely. Even when reports are corrected or removed, the harm may already have been done. Speed and competition for attention must never take precedence over accuracy, dignity and children's safety,’ she added.
She went on to assert the need for responsible reporting, stating that media not only has the power to tell stories, but also to influence how society sees, values and treats its children.
Also speaking at the workshop, resource person, Nitin Sethi, a Journalist and Trustee, The Reporter’s Collective Trust Delhi, urged the media to adopt a more practical and responsible approach to reporting issues involving children, with emphasis on protecting their identity, dignity and privacy while ensuring accountability.
He highlighted the challenges journalists face in applying ethical guidelines in real-life reporting situations, stressing the need to move beyond general principles towards practical newsroom practices.
He emphasised that child protection guidelines should emerge through consultation with journalists rather than being imposed, while calling for greater collaboration between media organisations, government departments and civil society organisations.
Panelists of the discussion--Imkong Walling, Principal Correspondent of The Morung Express; Veroli Zhimomi, Sub-Editor of Eastern Mirror; Bendangchuba, Reporter of Nagaland Post; and Wangzie Konyak, reporter of Dimapur 24/7—also shared the need for responsible reporting on child-related issues.
The pursuit of breaking news and online engagement should never override children's rights, they echoed, while highlighting the challenges journalists face in accessing verified information, noting that reluctance among concerned authorities to share information often leads to speculation and inaccurate reporting.
They called for easy accessibility of state-level data to promote factual reporting and strengthen preventive efforts on child protection.
The discussion also underscored the need for follow-up reports on child abuse cases, including the progress of legal proceedings and the availability of counselling and support for victims, while maintaining confidentiality.