The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and media stakeholders have urged journalists to exercise empathy and caution when reporting on issues involving children, to prevent further trauma among affected minors and their families.
The call was made during a two-day training on ethical journalism and child rights reporting organised by UNICEF in Kano for journalists from Kano and Jigawa states.
Participants noted that the prevailing challenges in Northern Nigeria, particularly in conflict-affected communities, require more accurate, sensitive, and responsible media coverage of child-related issues.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Nutrition Manager Dr. Karanveer Singh, who also served as Chief of Field Office in Kano, described the training as vital for promoting professionalism in reporting on children’s issues.
He cautioned journalists against disclosing the identities of minors or publishing their images in sensitive cases, such as abduction or gender-based violence, warning that such practices could worsen trauma. Singh emphasised the need for empathy in reporting, stressing that media coverage should not exacerbate the suffering of affected children and their families.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Radio Kano, Comrade Abubakar Adamu Rano, represented by the station’s UNICEF Focal Person, Aishatu Usman, highlighted the influence of media reports on public perception and policy decisions.
Usman noted that irresponsible reporting could expose children to stigma and harm, while ethical journalism would help protect their dignity and promote their rights. “As journalists, what we report, how we report it, and the words we use can influence people and even government decisions,” she said.
In her remarks, Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Jumoke Falayi, stressed the need to protect children, describing them as the future generation. Falayi warned that negative reporting involving children could have long-term consequences, including reputational damage.
Similarly, Director of Special Programmes at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Dr. Jide Johnson, cautioned against sensational reporting on children, describing it as unethical and harmful to societal development. He urged journalists to prioritise the interests of minors, noting that they are vulnerable and require protection.
Columnist Mr. Lekan Sote of The Punch newspaper also emphasised the need to safeguard children in all reports, stressing that they should be treated as vulnerable individuals.
The training included UNICEF officials, such as Communication Specialist Samuel Kaalu, alongside resource persons from media and academic institutions. Participants are expected to gain the skills and ethical standards necessary for child-sensitive reporting in line with global best practices.
