UNICEF To Journalists: Uphold Ethics, Protect Children In Your Reporting
By BUNMI BUSOLA
THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on Nigerian journalists to prioritise ethical and child-sensitive reporting, stressing that stories involving children must be handled with dignity and responsibility.
Delivering a keynote address at a two-day training on Ethical Journalism and Child Reporting in Ibadan, Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF’s Chief of the Lagos Field Office, said responsible journalism was “not just a professional standard but a moral imperative.”
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, brought together journalists from the South-West and Edo State.
Lafoucriere emphasised that ethical reporting protects the most vulnerable and ensures that children’s identities are not exposed or exploited for sensational headlines.
“Children are not miniature adults; they are still developing emotionally and socially,” she said. “When we report on children affected by abuse or conflict, it must be done with sensitivity and respect for their safety.”
She noted that accurate, compassionate reporting helps build public trust and contributes to a society that values and protects every child.
“By choosing ethics, you choose protection, dignity, and a better future for every Nigerian child,” she added.
In his remarks, Mr. Ogbodo Nnam, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation—represented by Mr. Toye Falayi, Head of CRIB—said the media’s influence carries great responsibility.
“Every image, word, or frame about a child can have lasting consequences. This training helps journalists reflect on their ethical obligations and adopt global best practices in child-focused reporting,” he said.
The training aimed to equip journalists with the tools to report children’s stories accurately, respectfully, and in ways that advance their rights and protection.
