MCM Urges Journalists to Uphold Professionalism in Reporting on Child Labour
Moses Kaufa, Executive Director of MCM, highlighted the challenges of reporting on such sensitive topics and stressed the need for journalists to uphold professional standards.
Dowa, Malawi — The Media Council of Malawi (MCM) has called on journalists in the country to maintain a high level of professionalism when reporting on child labour issues, writes Steve Nkhoma.
This call was made during the opening of a four-day training in Dowa on November 14, 2023, funded by Plan International Malawi (PIM) and Save the Children International under the Joining Forces Africa (JOFA) project.
Journalists from across the country have gathered for the training, which aims to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively report on child labour issues in Malawi.
Moses Kaufa, Executive Director of MCM, highlighted the challenges of reporting on such sensitive topics and stressed the need for journalists to uphold professional standards.
"Reporting on child labour issues is not an easy task. It requires knowledge, skills, ethics, and sensitivity consideration," Kaufa stated.
Dan Kapatuka, Regional Manager of Plan International Malawi, expressed the hope that participants would enhance their reporting skills with a keen interest in protecting children from victimization.
"It is our hope that with the knowledge that these journalists and media houses will gain, they will be able to help amplify child labour issues not only across the project impact areas, but they will cover the entire country," said Kapatuka.
Francis Kwenda, Chief Labour Officer and Head of the Child Labour Unit in the Ministry of Labour, emphasised the need for a collective effort in the fight against child labour.
He urged all stakeholders to work together to hold perpetrators accountable.
The JOFA project, implemented by a consortium of PIM and Save the Children International, aims to address child labour issues in Malawi by empowering media houses and journalists to effectively raise awareness through their reporting on child labour issues.
The training program is expected to contribute to improved media coverage, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by children involved in labor and advocating for their rights.