Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) gives Weekend Argus a MAD[1] for indirectly identifying child victims who are reported to have been allegedly bullied at school by their classmate.

“Mitchells Plain school troubled by Grade 2 bully’s ‘reign of terror’” (Weekend Argus, 21/08/2022) reports on angry parents whose children are allegedly being bullied by a fellow learner at a school in Cape Town. The parents say in the article that their children’s lives are in danger and the school is not taking action to protect them. Parents reveal that their children come home with scars and complaints every day. These parents’ children are reportedly chocked, punched, and have objects such as scissors and chairs thrown at them during class by the eight-year-old bully who is said to have ADHD.

It is commendable that Weekend Argus reports on such matters that affect many learners in South Africa. However, MMA recommends that this must be done with utmost care as such reports require that the identities of the children involved are protected. This to protect the children from potential further harm such as victimisation etc.

The article gets a MAD because the children involved are indirectly identified through the naming and photographing of their mothers. By identifying the children, the journalist has potentially subjected them to secondary trauma that may occur as a result of seeing the story and their parents’ identities in the media.

By indirectly identifying the children, the journalist acted against MMA’s Editorial Guidelines and Principles for Reporting on Children in the Media[2] which state, “Even where you are trying to tell people about harm to children or another children’s issue or promote children’s rights, you always need to respect the best interests of the individual child.”

The journalist did not act in the best interests of the children as identifying the children potentially subjects them to harm such as stigma, victimisation etc.

MMA encourages Weekend Argus to continue to report on issues affecting children but to do so in an ethical manner. Children who are witnesses to, victims or perpetrators of abuse should be always protected.

Written by Girlie Sibanda

Edited by Lister Namumba

[1] MADs are given to journalists who have irresponsibly reported on children and compromised their rights and welfare

[2] https://mediamonitoringafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020childrensreport.pdf