Children's rights: television programmes aired in Singapore

Abstract

This article focuses on aspects of children's rights as portrayed in television. The results of a six-month research study show analyses of television content of Channel 5, which is the only free-to-air, 24-hour, English-language entertainment channel in Singapore. The results identify the role of television in assisting Singapore to meet its obligations in regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. News and advertisements aired on Channel 5 during primetime (between 7 pm and 10 pm) were recorded over a six-month period, and those featuring or related to children were analysed for the study. The samples were categorised and subcategorised based on the principles of the Convention (UNICEF, (2011a, June 2). Convention on the rights of the child. Rights Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child): Participation, Protection, Development, and Survival. A fifth category, not under United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child-Object, was devised by the researchers. The results of this study have shown that the representation of children on television in Singapore is, in part, a reflection of how Singaporean society views children. Analyses of the media content indicated that protection and development of children was Singapore's top priority. Despite the fact that children were considered to need adult protection there was no reference to the Convention.

Keywords:

• early childhood education
• children
• portrayed
• children's rights
• media

Notes on contributors

Sheela Warrier recently completed her PhD studies in media and children's rights. In addition, she teaches in an international school in Singapore and has research interests in issues of importance to children's development.

Marjory Ebbeck is an emeritus professor, University of South Australia, and supervises doctoral candidates. She is a consultant in early childhood education to many universities in Australia and internationally. She is senior academic adviser to SEED Institute, Singapore, where she assists with the development of research projects.