Role and Responsibility of the Media in Reporting Child Abuse Cases

This article discusses the role and responsibility of the media in reporting child abuse cases. It explores how media coverage increases public awareness and influences policymakers. The article also examines the impact of media on the perception of child abuse.

Victoria Adjo Cimbie
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Table of Contents
Topic: Role and responsibility of the media in reporting child abuse cases....................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................6
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Topic: Role and responsibility of the media in reporting
child abuse cases.
Introduction
Child abuse refers to the harm or injury caused to a child through action or failing from
taking action, of a parent, guardian or any other elder (Alaggia and Wang, 2020). It could be
either physical or emotional harm of the nature of maltreatment, physical abuse, exploitation,
sexual abuse, etc.
Main Body
There are few authors who have argued that coverage related to child maltreatment by news
media increases public awareness regarding issue. This provides help to realise need for
reporting child abuse situations (Aroustamian, 2020). There are stories about child maltreatment
which are making headlines. Maltreatment has become an acknowledged social problem across
the world. In context of USA, it can be concluded that there is growth within newspaper news
and articles since 1970 and 1980. There is small portion for child abuse and many neglected
cases that require media attention. CPS within United States provides argument that negligence
is the most common way for maltreating (Media and child abuse, 2021). There are
approximately 78% of examined cases which have been discussed in media. There are most child
abuse and neglect cases which are involved within chronic situations. Some parents are facing
issues of instability and impairment which are not involved in providing basic care and nurturing
for children.
The media has played an important role in the society we live in and according to the latest
report it is analysed that both the child maltreatment reports as well as media coverage has been
increased, Its representation is the primary source of information for many people in the society
(Ayling, Walsh and Williams, 2020). The media started to report about the child abuse cases
when the society decided that it was no longer a family issue instead was something that gives a
child his/her childhood trauma. The reason behind the media covering child abuse is to
discourage criminals and to inform public about the rising issues. Media has the power to create
a negative and a positive impact on the perception of child abuse happening in the society. Media
helps provoke the public about the issue suffered by a lot of children in the community and also
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helps to influence policymakers to make appropriate laws on behalf of the victims (Hunt and
Broadley, 2020). The death of child is identified as child abuse under the child protection service
and by other health and social workers. In short the media has succeeded on placing the problem
in the minds of people and on the political agenda.
But a common criticism is that the media only shows the distorted cases of child abuse. Using
the power of media, it does not necessitate to use the victim's privacy and identity (Kosher and
Ben-Arieh, 2020). The protocol to use the photographs used in the reports has been changed in
order to keep the victim's identity hidden. The child's right to privacy has to be kept in mind
before publishing the report. Reporters or journalist often exaggerates the entire scenario, the
issue of crime or criminal justice attracts so much attention because it is full of drama, it portrays
crime news as prime news. In most of the cases the child is considered as out of control
(McKibbin and Humphreys, 2020). Media is playing a crucial role within construction of child
abuse and this has become one of the major social problem across the world. There are some
issues which are related to the range of genres consisting of films, TV drama, soap operas and
they have reached wide range of audiences (Menon, Pattnaik and Padhy, 2020). There is great
importance of media while increasing raising awareness regarding diverse range of cases. The
groundwork for recognition is associated with physical abuse during 1960. There are several
media representations for sexual abuse and they are only transformed public knowledge.
According to researchers, it is analysed that explanation of media representations started to
provide victims of abuse within framework for their experience. There are few shocking as well
as influential media coverage concerned clerical child abuse. There are several documentaries
associated with child abuse within international and local communities. There is need to manage
the work properly and protect child from various hazards and depression.
Media has been playing a vital role in creating child abuse as social problem. Earlier, it was
just a family issue which was kept in family only. The role of media is to help the child and tell
to the people. Media has the ability to create positive and negative impact on public about the
social issue. They serve to arouse the issue to the people and opinions on this issue. This will not
only influence the public positively professionally but politically too. Various campaigns are
launched for this purpose. It will broaden the knowledge and influence attitude of the people to
change the behaviour. Media presents for opportunities and limitations in the society. Helping
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the issue to raise in the public is considered to be the strength of media. On the flip side, its
limitation is that they are not able to convey a mixed problem, changing of attitudes towards the
issue and beliefs of the audience. Child abuse is physical and mental maltreatment by the other
person. It can be devastating as the child can be suffering from major injuries, losing self-esteem
as well as change in the behaviour. Children who suffers from child abuse may likely to impact
on the future well-being such as lower educational attainment, physical and mental health
complexities like depression. Sometimes the person does some serious offences who have face
child abuse in their childhood (Okpara, 2020). Their families also suffered a lot during this
situation such as they don't know how to support the child. Relatives and extended family
member came for the support but some people don't even care for them. They will make fun of
the situation and tries to arouse the cause in an appropriate manner. Now a day’s people are
getting aware for mental and physical health and they are trying their best to help the person who
is suffering.
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References
Books and Journal
Alaggia, R. and Wang, S., 2020. “I never told anyone until the# metoo movement”: What can we
learn from sexual abuse and sexual assault disclosures made through social
media?. Child abuse & neglect, 103, p.104312.
Aroustamian, C., 2020. Time's up: Recognising sexual violence as a public policy issue: A
qualitative content analysis of sexual violence cases and the media. Aggression and
violent behavior, 50, p.101341.
Ayling, N.J., Walsh, K. and Williams, K.E., 2020. Factors influencing early childhood education
and care educators’ reporting of child abuse and neglect. Australasian Journal of Early
Childhood, 45(1), pp.95-108.
Hunt, S. and Broadley, K., 2020. Education professionals’ role in identifying and reporting child
sexual abuse: Untangling the maze. Child Sexual Abuse, pp.391-419.
Kosher, H. and Ben-Arieh, A., 2020. Children’s participation: A new role for children in the field
of child maltreatment. Child abuse & neglect, 110, p.104429.
McKibbin, G. and Humphreys, C., 2020. Future directions in child sexual abuse prevention: An
Australian perspective. Child abuse & neglect, 105, p.104422.
Menon, V., Pattnaik, J.I., Bascarane, S. and Padhy, S.K., 2020. Role of media in preventing
gender-based violence and crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asian journal of
psychiatry, 54, p.102449.
Okpara, S.N., 2020. Child Protection and Development in Nigeria: Towards a More Functional
Media Intervention. In Media and Its Role in Protecting the Rights of Children in
Africa (pp. 57-79). IGI Global.
Ramabu, N.M., 2020. A content analysis of Botswana media coverage of child sexual
abuse. Children and Youth Services Review, 117, p.105264.
Online
Media and child abuse.2021.[Online]. Available through:<
https://discoversociety.org/2014/09/30/the-media-ands-child-abuse/>
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