From Attah Ede and Sylvia udegbunam, Port Harcourt

Seasoned communication experts and veteran broadcasters, on Thursday, enjoined media practitioners both in broadcast and print media to remain upright and act as child-rights champions to ensure that the dignity and the rights of every child are fully respected in every circumstance.

They also said journalists must prioritize a child’s psychological and social well-being over the “newsworthiness” or financial gains of a catchy headline and obtain valid parental or guardian consent alongside the child’s personal assent before conducting any media interview or engagement.

They thrown the challenge during the two-day UNICEF Zonal Workshop on Ethical Reporting of Children held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, capital.

Key experts including; Dr. Jide Johnson (Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism), Lanre Idowu (CEO of Diamond Awards for Media Excellence and rights activist), ex- broadcaster with Nigerian Television Authority, Nansel Nimyel and Dr. Geoffrey Njoku led the presentations, raging from newsroom protocols, media responsibility, regulatory requirements and trauma-informed journalism as well as NUJ code press council legal consequences and rewriting harmful headlines into ethical alternatives.

Dr Jide Johnson, in his presentation on the Media and Child Rights – Call to Action, described the media as an important actor in promoting and protecting children’s rights.

He reminded media practitioners on their watchdog role, stressing that they have constitutional responsibilities under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, noting that its gatekeeping and agenda-setting roles gave it enormous influence over societal perceptions.

“The one who writes the story frames the world,” he said, urging journalists to use quality data, statistics, features, cartoons, jingles and local languages to draw attention to issues affecting children.

He called on journalists to become advocates for children by reporting issues such as out-of-school children, infant mortality, malnutrition, child labour and inadequate educational facilities

Presenting a paper on Drafting Newsroom Guidelines on Child Reporting Protocol, Nansel Nimel maintained that journalists narratives could either protect children or expose them to further harm.

He insisted that newsrooms to establish dedicated child-reporting desks, assign trained correspondents and introduce child-sensitive language and pre-publication reviews for reports involving minors.

“Reporting can either protect the child or harm the child,” Nimel said, stressing the need to protect children’s identities through measures such as pseudonyms, voice masking and image blurring.

He also advocated regular staff training, internal complaints mechanisms, newsroom audits and collaboration with child-protection agencies.

On the legal and regulatory consequences of unethical reporting, the facilitators highlighted provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code and the codes of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Press Council.

They stressed that the identities of children involved in criminal or legal matters should not be disclosed, while journalists must avoid interviews or programming that could expose minors to ridicule, stigma, exploitation or psychological harm.

The facilitators noted that the principle of the “best interest of the child” remained central to ethical reporting, adding that Nigerian broadcasting standards were consistent with broader international principles.

The workshop also examined trauma-informed journalism, with Johnson warning that repeated exposure to accidents, violence, sexual assaults, malnourished children and displaced persons could affect journalists’ mental health.

He advised journalists to prioritise their well-being, develop accountability partners and approach traumatised sources with care, allowing them to determine which questions they are comfortable answering.

The communication gurus noted that ethical child reporting requires journalists to cross-check accounts, avoid re-traumatising victims and balance stories by highlighting children’s resilience rather than portraying them only as victims.

They urged journalists to always mask or hide the identities, names, and faces of child victims of abuse, trafficking, or conflict to avoid lifetime stigmatization and always reporting away from “pity-driven” individual exposure and move toward highlighting broader, systemic institutional failures.

From Attah Ede and Sylvia Udegbunam, Port Harcourt

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Wednesday, opened a two- day training for journalists on ethical reporting and child rights protection.

The three-day zonal capacity-building workshop, which is holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital is funded by UNICEF and organised in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State(BCA), brought together journalists, editors, and state correspondents from print, broadcast, and digital media across Benue, Enugu, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Rivers, Cross River and Delta states to deepen their understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks guiding child-focused reporting in Nigeria.

In her keynote address titled “Why Ethical Reporting of Children Matters in Nigeria,” the Chief Field Officer, Enugu Field Office, UNICEF, Juliet Chiluwe, said journalists were “not merely observers of society” but “shapers of society.”

She said the responsibility of journalists became even greater when reporting stories involving children, stressing that a child featured in the media “is not simply a subject for a story.”

“That child is a person with dignity, rights, aspirations, and a future,” Chiluwe said.

She maintained that the training reflects UNICEF’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the media, adding that journalists play a crucial role in giving a voice to children, who often cannot speak for themselves.

She noted that ethical reporting is vital in a diverse society like Nigeria, where the media can either unite people or deepen divisions and commended Nigeria journalists for their tremendous and developmental reportage.

“The way we report on children can have a lasting impact on their lives.Ethical journalism — marked by accuracy, fairness, and balance — protects vulnerable children by preserving their identities, prioritising their best interests, and ensuring a future free from shame and harm.

“An unnecessary disclosure of identity can follow a child for years. Ethical reporting must never be treated as an option or an extra add-on to good journalism,” she said.

Chiluwe advised journalists to consider the best interests of children before publishing stories involving them and encouraged participants to use the training to sharpen their skills in covering child-related issues responsibly.

In his remark, the Director General of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA), Mr Francis Nwaubani, described the training as important and timely, stressing that children remain among the most vulnerable members of society and depend on adults and professionals to protect their rights and dignity.

Nwaubani insisted that children could be exposed to unintended harm through sensational reporting, inappropriate identification, intrusive interviews and the publication of information that could compromise their safety and privacy.

He explained that journalists and media professionals wield considerable influence through their reports, broadcasts, headlines, documentaries and digital platforms, making responsible reporting about children both a professional requirement and a moral obligation.

“The way we report a child who is a victim of violence, abuse, exploitation, conflict, displacement, poverty or other forms of vulnerability can either contribute to the child’s protection and recovery or inadvertently prevent the child from recovering and exclude them further,” he said.

The DG however enjoined journalists to consider the possible consequences of their reports before publishing or broadcasting stories involving children, stressing journalists must ask themselves whether a story would protect or endanger the child, respect the child’s dignity and privacy, and serve the child’s best interests.

Nwaubani stressed that ethical reporting did not mean avoiding difficult stories involving children, but required journalists to tell such stories accurately, sensitively and responsibly while promoting solutions and protecting children’s rights.

The workshop is expected to features paper presentations on overview of UN CRC and the Nigeria Domestication of CRA (2003) and institutionalisation of child rights, media as protector or violator: foundation of child rights, privacy, dignity and protection of identity consent and parental approval avoiding harmful stereotypes and sensationalism and ethical dilemmas: abuse, crime when to report vs when not to report etc.

The training objectives include equipping participants with knowledge of the legal and ethical frameworks governing the reporting of children in Nigeria, including the Child Rights Act and relevant international conventions.

Participants are also expected to learn to identify and mitigate risks associated with reporting on children, apply best practices in interviewing children and handling sensitive information, and report critical child rights issues, such as abuse, exploitation, education, health, and the impact of conflict, responsibly.

Some council chairmen in Lagos have urged residents to preserve Yoruba cultural heritage while celebrating the 2026 Isẹ̀ṣe Day.

They made the call in separate statements made available to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.

The chairmen felicitated traditional rulers, traditionalists, chieftains and residents, describing Isẹ̀ṣe as a sacred link to Yoruba ancestry.

They said the annual celebration offered an opportunity to reconnect with cultural roots, preserve traditions and strengthen communal identity.

Chairman, Kosofe Local Government, Moyosore Ogunlewe, said Isẹ̀ṣe allowed residents to reconnect with their roots and appreciate inherited cultural values.

“Today, we pause to honour Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, the sacred thread that binds us to our ancestors, our values and our identity,” he said.

Ogunlewe said Yoruba traditions were not relics of the past, but living wisdom that continued guiding community relationships and conflict resolution.

“Our traditions are not relics of the past; they are living wisdom, guiding how we treat one another,” he said.

He urged residents to embrace Yoruba culture proudly, teach it to their children and preserve it for future generations.

 “Let us continue to embrace our culture with pride, teach it to our children, and preserve it for those yet unborn,” he said.

The chairman wished residents a peaceful and memorable Isẹ̀ṣe Day celebration, urging continued appreciation of Yoruba cultural values.

Similarly, Ayodele Benson, Chairman, Imota Local Council Development Area, congratulated traditional institutions, rulers, chieftains, traditionalists and residents.

Benson said Isẹ̀ṣe Day provided an opportunity to reconnect with ancestral roots and preserve traditions that define the Yoruba people.

He commended residents for showcasing their customs, cultural expressions, creativity and artistry during the celebration.

“These traditions serve as a bridge between our past, present, and future, reminding us of the importance of preserving our heritage,” he said.

Benson also commended residents for maintaining peaceful coexistence despite religious differences, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to equal opportunities.

He urged residents to promote peace, unity, mutual respect and harmony while supporting Imota LCDA’s development and economic advancement.

 “I give thanks to the Almighty God for sparing our lives to witness another Isẹ̀ṣe Day,” he said.

Benson prayed that Yoruba cultural heritage would continue flourishing while bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence strengthened among residents.

“May our cultural heritage continue to flourish, and may the bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence among our people grow stronger,” he said.

He wished residents a happy Isẹ̀ṣe Day, while praying for peace, progress, prosperity and economic advancement in Imota and Nigeria.