RESOURCES: Production Guidelines for reporting "bad news" to children

Production Guidelines for reporting "bad news" to children

Some producers have developed guidelines for reporting "bad news" to children. Here are a few selected examples of such production guidelines*:

1. Simplify and be obvious.
   • Use direct explanations and clear graphics to make complex issues more understandable.
   • It may help to state the obvious, such as "Saddam's missiles can't reach Brasil". Abstract concepts like distance have no meaning to young children.
2. Recognise children's fears and try not to be over emotional.
   • Do not show frightening or distressing pictures.
   • Do not use dramatised texts or music.
   • Offer children ways to cope with fears.
   • Be selective; not all stories are relevant for your target audience.
3. Be fair, get the tone right and avoid speculation.
   • In our multi-cultural societies, there may be members of both sides to a conflict in your audience. For example, in Britain, there is a concern to represent the Muslim community fairly, as it does not have "one voice or one view." To do so avoid phrases such as "British Moslems say..."
   • Use re-assuring script lines: "It is important to remember that child killings are really unusual which is why Holly's and Jessica's deaths received massive attention from the public and press."
4. Include accounts of attempts to find "solutions/resolutions" to the conflict.
5. Offer your audience opportunities to be involved:
   • Ask for and read out a range of viewers' questions and comments from different communities (so children can express their feelings and fears and also not feel isolated with their emotions).
   • Read and address their e-mails - on the air and in a websiteÂ? perhaps involving experts.
   • Provide for a forum for discussion of the news on your website.

* Selected from the discussion with producers that took place on June 8, 2004 during the Prix Jeunesse International and from guidelines developed by BBC/Newsround, ZDF/KI.KA/ logo!.

SOURCE: http://www.br-online.de/jugend/izi/guidelines/reminders.htm

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Chris Schuepp
Young People's Media Network - Coordinator
c/o ecmc (European Centre for Media Competence)
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