How much care does the media take to protect children?

According to Faruk Bildirici's article in NewsLabTurkey titled "Children as perpetrators or victims in crime news," media organizations are not showing enough care in protecting the identities and privacy of children.

In his article, Bildirici provided examples of some recent incidents. For instance, in a traffic accident that occurred on the road to the Belgrade Forest in Istanbul, the identity and photographs of 17-year-old T.C., who was driving without a license, were openly published by many media outlets. Yet, he noted that the Press Law and Journalistic Ethical Principles mandate the concealment of the identities of those under the age of 18.

Bildirici drew attention to the harm such news reports can cause to children. He stated that disclosing children's identities exposes them to risks such as social stigmatization, the creation of a digital footprint, and negative impacts on their future lives.

Arguing that the media must be more sensitive in protecting children, Bildirici emphasized that in news stories involving children, their best interests must be considered and ethical principles must not be violated.

The full text of Faruk Bildirici's article is available on NewsLabTurkey.

News Source: 12punto