HeraldLIVE celebrates a young book author
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) would like to award a GLAD[1] to The HeraldLIVE for the inspiring article and celebration of children.
The story titled “Little bookworm 8 publishes own book” (20/08/2024) written by Roslyn Baatjies, the story is about an 8-year-old Ezekiel Jewell from Eastern Cape who is doing big things and is already a published author. The articles say, while other five-year-old boys and girls played with dolls and toy cars, little Ezekiel from Makhanda spent his time immersed in the made-up stories his parents told him.
MMA applauds HeraldLIVE for promoting great journalistic practice by celebrating a child’s achievement and by accessing the voice of the child in a matter that has direct consequences on their well-being. By highlighting the child’s achievements in the journalistic process, the reporter advances the principle set out in Section 28.2[2] of the Bill of Rights which states that, “a child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.”
“I wrote all my stories when I was five years old. I feel happy that it has now been published,” he said proudly. “The first story I wrote was The Flower That Never Blew Away.”, the child continues to express his accolades. Article 12[3][3] of the UNCRC further underlies this principle by stating that children have the indelible right to have their views taken accounted for in any matter affecting them. The journalist accessed the child’s views immensely and this will allow other young people to be motivated to take up space.
MMA encourages HeraldLIVE to continue with the exceptional reporting on children and looks forward to more stories on children.
MMA continues to advocate for children’s right through a glut of projects which seek to advance the rights of children in the media such as the Reporting on Children in the Media Course[4], the Isu Elihle Awards[5], The Web Rangers[6] programme and MADOAT[7] to name a few. MMA therefore celebrates all journalistic endeavors that seek to show the child not merely as passive victims, but as active participants in the democratic process.
Written by Nthabiseng Mahlangu
Edited by Ntombifuthi Kubeka