Media practitioners in Kano and Jigawa States have been called on to follow ethical reporting standards to protect children from harm, stigma, and exploitation.
The appeal was made by UNICEF Field Office Kano Chief, Dr. Karanveer Singh, during a training on Ethical Journalism and Child Rights held in Dutse on Wednesday, the 25th of March, 2026.
Singh cautioned that practices such as exposing the identities of vulnerable children, publishing graphic materials, and carrying out insensitive interviews can have lasting psychological and social effects.
According to him, “children affected by violence, abuse, or conflict are particularly at risk when their stories are mishandled in the media”.
He explained that revealing a child’s identity can lead to stigma, social rejection, and even re-traumatization.
“children are not miniature adults and must be treated with dignity and care.”
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He also spoke against sensational coverage of incidents involving children, noting that graphic descriptions and disturbing images can create fear and anxiety among other children and within communities.
Singh further faulted exploitative interviews where journalists push traumatized children for immediate responses, describing such actions as harmful and unethical.
He stressed that ethical journalism involves protecting children’s identities, securing proper consent, and placing their welfare above headlines.
Singh urged journalists to see themselves as “guardians of children’s dignity” and to use their platforms responsibly to highlight child-related issues while ensuring their protection remains central in media coverage.