Local editors and journalists with interest on children news met with children to discuss ways in which the media can best report kids stories.
Participants who are members of MISA Lesotho’s Children in Media project told editors and journalists that their issues are well covered.
“I don’t listen to local radio stations anymore because they are irrelevant to my life” so said Mokhali Shale a child participant at a breakfast meeting held in Maseru on the 14th December, 2017.
“All we need is training and parental guidance to conduct radio programmes.” So said another child Tlotliso Seakhoa, adding that as children they have a lot to say and parents should speak on their behalf.
The meeting was officiated by UNICEF Lesotho representative Dr. Nadi Albino and the Minister of Social Development, Matebatso Doti who ordered editors present to provide a clearly defined strategy on reporting children stories by 1st January, 2018.
The minister said the media is strategically positioned to help the government make informed decisions and policies in the implementation of Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2011. The Act’s section 14 guarantees Right of Opinion and the minister argues that it is only when the media provides enough space to children that the right will be enjoyed.
The meeting was organized by MISA Lesotho with a financial support of UNICEF Lesotho and is part of a series of activities that the gathered children will implement until March, 2018 in continued commemoration of World Children’s Day.
Upcoming event will be conducting of a mini survey on the Use of Social Media Among Children whose report will inform development of country wide project of the use of social media among children.
Children in the Media Project began in 2010 with children focus group discussion which led to magazine called Children’s Voice. Along with Children’s Voice magazine the children contributed articles to In the Zone newsletter which was a Southern African Development Community (SADC) region children publication with writers from Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa.
