Researchers, media practitioners push for stronger child-sensitive reporting to improve child protection

Researchers, journalists, broadcasters, and child rights advocates have called for more child-sensitive reporting on issues involving children, stressing the importance of responsible, evidence-based communication in protecting children's rights and welfare.

The call was made during the launch of “Ang Bata sa Lente ng Pananaliksik at Midya,” a national webinar series organized by the Philippines Communication Society (PCS) in partnership with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT).

Opening the webinar, PIDS President Philip Arnold P. Tuaño emphasized the role of evidence and responsible communication in shaping public understanding and institutional responses to children's needs.

"The studies we tell, the images we share, the language we use, and the policies we advocate all influence how society understands how children experience, and also how our institutions respond to their needs. Responsible communication is therefore not only simply a professional obligation, but also a public responsibility," Tuano said.

KBP President Ruperto Nicdao Jr. also stressed broadcasters' responsibility when reporting stories involving children.

“[In] broadcasting, we often say that every story matters. But when the story involves a child, our responsibility becomes even greater. We are not just reporting facts; we are dealing with someone’s son or daughter, someone’s future.” Nicdao said.

PIDS senior research fellow Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep, meanwhile, presented findings from the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child (LCSFC), which has followed more than 5,000 Filipino children since 2016.

Ulep said the study allows researchers to examine how children's experiences, including exposure to violence, are associated with outcomes later in life.

“Childhood doesn't end in childhood,” Ulep said, explaining that experiences at home, school, and in the community can affect children's mental health, learning confidence, educational outcomes, and future income and productivity.

He said violence against children should not be viewed simply as isolated crime stories but as a public health, social, and development issue.

“Every story about a child is an opportunity to inform, but also to protect,” Ulep said.

Data from 2022 presented by Ulep showed that around one in three Filipino adolescents, or about 35%, had been exposed to violence at home, either directly or indirectly. Almost one in five had experienced bullying.

Ulep also noted that the risks are not the same for all children. His presentation showed that some groups, including sexual minority adolescents and adolescents with gender-nonconforming expressions, were more likely to experience violence at home and bullying in school.

He urged media practitioners to ensure that their reporting does not add to the stigma experienced by vulnerable children.

Ulep said journalists covering violence against children should protect their identities and dignity, avoid language that could contribute to stigma and discrimination, and, when possible, provide information on where children and families can seek help and what solutions are available.

For policymakers, Ulep said the evidence points to the need for stronger prevention measures, including parenting support, safer schools, and stronger child-protection systems.

The CWC, meanwhile, presented its updated Guide for Media Practitioners on the Reporting and Coverage of Children.

Camille Jacinto-Lizardo, communications head of the CWC, said the guide is intended to help media practitioners and content creators apply the best-interest-of-the-child principle when reporting and sharing stories involving children.

“The child comes first, the story second,” Jacinto-Lizardo said.

The guide covers both traditional and new media and is intended not only for journalists and broadcasters but also for vloggers, influencers, content creators, government information officers, parents, and members of the public.

According to the CWC presentation, the guide is anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing journalistic codes of ethics.

The guide outlines five principles for decisions involving children: privacy, agency, participation, dignity, and sensitivity.

The updated guide responds to changes in the media environment, including the rise of digital platforms and emerging child-protection concerns online. It provides practical guidance on protecting children's identities, obtaining parental consent and the child's assent, respecting their decision to participate or opt out, and avoiding language and treatment that may cause stigma or harm.

Veteran broadcast journalist and documentary producer Kara David, who has worked in journalism for nearly 30 years, shared experiences in reporting on vulnerable children and communities.

David said her presentation was based on the practices developed by her team and did not necessarily represent the entire media industry or her network.

In discussing a documentary involving child victims of abuse, David said her team consulted government agencies and a child psychiatrist before the production and worked with social workers during the shoot.

The team also deliberately did not interview the child victims to avoid making them recount their traumatic experiences.

“We really wanted to put children first, always in the best interest of the child,” David said.

David also said the team avoided reenactments of sexual abuse and did not want to sensationalize the issue.

“We do not want the documentary to end that way. We do not want to sensationalize the issue and just leave it that way, na victim sila. We wanted to give hope amidst this very dark issue,” she said.

During the webinar's open forum, David also discussed the changing media environment, noting that journalists now work under tighter deadlines as audiences increasingly consume news through social media.

She said stories have the power to influence audiences and urged journalists and content creators to use that power responsibly.

“Stories are powerful,” David said. “It can be an instrument for good, but also an instrument for bad.”

The webinar marks the first installment of a broader national initiative examining children's issues through the lenses of research, journalism, and public policy.

The series will continue on November 11, 2026, with a webinar on Artificial Intelligence, Online Games, and Digital Citizenship, followed by another session on January 20, 2027, focusing on children's nutrition, mental health, trauma, and digital life.

The discussions will culminate in a National Policy Forum on February 16–17, 2027, titled Growing Up Digital: Children, Social Media, Online Games, Artificial Intelligence, and Child Protection in the Philippines. (MTQ/AQQ, PIDS)