engleski

Media coverage of children in "out-of-home" care: Content analysis of Croatian daily newspapers

Objective: Media reports of children in “out- of- home” care can have an impact on attitudes towards children, caregivers, institutions and people who work in the system of care. The main objective of this study was to determine to what extent and how Croatian daily newspapers presented children in care and various forms of “out-of-home” care (children’s homes, foster care, family alike group home care, youth residential communities and adoption) during 2014. Method: Quantitative and qualitative content analysis of printed newspaper articles (Croatian national (1) and regional (3) daily newspapers was conducted. Newspaper articles that appeared in Croatian daily newspapers between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 were coded on the basis of revised analytical matrix which contained 17 classification categories. Results: Children in “out-of-home” care are rarely covered in daily newspapers (n = 73), media coverage is mostly focused on negative stories, and “episodic” or “case based”. Children in care are predominantly portrayed as “poor children” or victims of parental conflict, neglect and domestic violence. News media still violate children’s right to privacy and participation in the media, often using sensational content and style. Of all forms of “out-of-home” care, only news of foster care is presented in a positive context. Conclusion: Journalist and editors should be educated on children’s rights, “out- of-home” care, the reasons for separation of children from parents, and the effects of negative media images of children in “out-of- home” care on the child’s self-image. Specific guidelines on Poster presentation how to frame an “out-of-home” care topics and individual cases should be developed in order to avoid stereotypical view and myths about children, caregivers, institutions, and professionals.

children in care,

nije evidentirano