Working positively with the media to protect children

Abstract

This article explores the ways in which social workers can develop effective methods of working with the media to protect children and is based on the author's experience, as a social worker, of exposing abuse of children in the Islington care system during the 90s. Without investigative journalism and persistent media coverage, the perpetrators would not have been exposed or reported to police and children would have continued to be unsafe. The extent of organised crime networks involved in this, and other child abuse cases, such as that of Elm Guest House, Richmond, has continued to gain coverage particularly through the commitment of a few specialist journalists. It is possible for those working in the media to protect sources when stories need to be exposed in the interests of children. Across the range of television, radio and print media the rights of children, adult survivors and those professionals representing their interests can be well represented particularly through single issue campaigns. Through working with the media it is possible to have a strong and influential voice in seeking justice for abused children and to counter the view that most media coverage of child protection issues is negative towards the social work profession.

Keywords::

• child protection
• media
• whistleblowing
• children's rights
• investigative journalism