'Boosting TV ratings at the expense of a child'.
Author:Peter Stevenson
CHILD Commissioner Leda Koursoumba yesterday called on the media to act with more responsibility and critical judgement when broadcasting stories of any kind about children.
The comments came after TV channels aired news stories about a ten-year-old Romanian girl and her grandparents who were evicted by their landlord on Easter Sunday and forced to sleep on the street.
Koursoumba, who was speaking at a press conference yesterday with Cyprus Radio and Television Broadcasting Authority Director General, Neophytos Epaminontas, had previously criticised the police's handling of the situation and has asked the justice and labour ministers for a report on the incident.
"Due to the current crisis I am sure we will witness many incidents where children and families will be put out on the streets, and coverage of such incidents is welcomed when it is done correctly," Koursoumba said.
The commissioner was troubled however by news reports on TV on Wednesday night which although hid the child's face, still showed her grandparents and an unobscured view of the back of the ten-year-old's head.
"Any actions on behalf of the media need to take into consideration whether any child's rights are being violated," she added.
According to the law, parents' or a guardian's permission must be given for their child to speak in public but sometimes that is not enough because the parents themselves might be in a desperate position where they cannot exercise sound judgement, Koursoumba said.
The commissioner went on to say that all journalists must consider the long-term consequences of any news piece they publish as it could have long-lasting effects on a child. "Having a child repeat a traumatic story over and over again, which is what members of the press did, can prove to be very distressing and it can be seen as exploiting the child," she said.
"Families who are suffering due to the economic crisis should not be turned into a product to help increase viewer numbers," Koursoumba concluded.
Epaminontas told reporters that the Cyprus Radio and Television Broadcasting Authority would fully investigate whether any TV reports violated children's rights. "I'm sure, unfortunately, that during the crisis we will see more and more cases like this one and it is the TV stations' responsibility to demonstrate critical judgement and be careful with stories involving children," he said. The director general added that if the investigation showed the law has been broken then the authority would take action and fine those responsible. "In general it is a sin to take advantage of a child's pain just to boost ratings," Epaminontas said.
Koursoumba had asked Labour Minister, Zeta Emilianidou, on Wednesday to inform her if welfare services were aware of the ten-year-old's case.
She had also asked for the child's family history, what actions welfare services had taken to ensure the child's safety and if her grandparent's parenting ability had been evaluated. Lastly, she had asked the minister if a plan had been put in place to help protect the child. It is understood that the little girl's parents are in Romania.
Koursoumba asked Justice Minister, Ionas Nicolaou to investigate why the on-duty officer from the welfare services had not been immediately informed by police that a ten-year-old girl was sleeping on the streets.
She also asked the minister to inform her whether police had fully investigated the allegations that the landlord where the family was staying had physically abused them before evicting them.
"We are investigating the case of whether the landlord struck the grandparents or the child and are still waiting to take statements," police spokesman Andreas Angelides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday. He added that a report would be completed, detailing the events on and after Easter Sunday regarding the child, which would be given to the child commissioner.
According to Koursoumba the child is now safe and with family members under the guidance of welfare services, while her grandparents are still being evaluated by welfare services to see if they are fit to care for her.
Child Commissioner Leda Koursoumba (left) accuses journalists of being intrusive and preying on the vulnerable
Copyright Cyprus Mail 2013
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| Publication: | Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) |
|---|---|
| Date: | May 10, 2013 |
| Words: | 694 |
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