engleski

Disclosing details of the child's private and family life in the media as a form of violation of the rights of the child

Although the journalists are required to show particular restraint when reporting on issues concerning children and ensure the protection of the children’s integrity, sensationalist titles and articles, accompanied by photographs, video footage and other identifying information about children are no longer isolated occurrences. Far beyond the boundaries set by the public interest, the public is regularly being informed about the children who are victims of different forms of illtreatment. Moreover, they are increasingly becoming objects of media interest due to their parents’ actions or public exposure. It has become parents’ common practice to publish photos of their children via social networks on a daily basis, including detailed descriptions of family circumstances, or to ”resolve’’ their mutual disputes concerning parental care through the media, by seeking public support for their ”side of the case’’. Being aware that it will attract public attention, the media are willing to provide the parents with logistic support. On the basis of an example from Croatia, this article aims to illustrate how intensive media intrusions into the child’s personal space have become. Unlike the adults, the child has no control over when and how his/her life will become the subject of public debates. So, there is an evident need to find the possibilities for protecting the child from the harm he/she may suffer due to unwanted public exposure.

child ; public ; media ; rights of the child ; private and family life ; parents

nije evidentirano