Media told to protect the rights of the young
Pictures showing abused or abusing children in media may subject reporters, news editors and even TV station's owners to legal punishment, News Broadcasting Council vicepresident Jessada Anujaree warned at a seminar yesterday.
"The Constitution has prescribed press freedom but media have legal responsibility too," he said.
He was speaking at a seminar on "How to present news reports without violating children's rights?"
Isra Institute held the event at the Thai Journalist Association.
Jessada urged media to be extra careful when reporting news about children.
Laws have protected the rights of children or those under 18 years old, be they victims or legal offenders. By laws, media must not identify the underage victims, suspects or convicts.
"Also, pictures or voices of any other persons that will make it possible for audience to identify the children involved must not be reported," Pol Maj General Wichai Rattanayos said yesterday. He heads the National Police Office's Criminal Affairs Division.
Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection deputy director general Supamas Payakwichien said the identity of young offenders should not be disclosed.
"Don't view them as devils. Give them a second chance," she said.
Isra Institute president Prasong Lertrattanawisut said some media organisations faced punishment relating to laws protecting children's rights in news reports.
"But there are no case studies on the issue," he said, "Some legalprotection clauses have not clearly prescribed punishment either".
