Central Asian ForumApril 23-27, 2012

INTRODUCTIONBrian O’Neill

Introduction to the Development Team

• Dr Brian O’Neill

• Mr Michael Foley

• Prof Noirin Hayes

Dublin Institute of Technology

• DIT is one of Ireland’s largest third level institutions• Ireland’s longest established journalism school• Leading provider of undergraduate and postgraduate

journalism training • Extensive national and international experience

Involvement in children’s rights and the media

International journalism training experience

Outline of Programme

Target group and approach• Students and professors in

journalism schools throughout the CEE/CIS region.

• A stand-alone syllabus on children’s rights for students of journalism

• Incorporating a Child Rights Syllabus into media schools

Objective

“To embed at source the concept of children’s rights among students of journalism/media/ communications”

Key Features

• A stand-alone syllabus for journalism students

• One/two semester module (11-15 weeks)

• Learning outcomes • Online, eLearning resource• Teachers’ Guide

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand and be able to outline the principle features of children’s rights as outlined in the UNCRC

2. Read, analyze and critically evaluate the reporting of issues affecting children from a rights-based perspective

3. Critically assess the relevance and importance of editorial guidelines and codes of practice in relation to news reporting affecting children

4. Make professional judgments regarding journalism practice from a perspective of children's rights

5. Report fairly, accurately and in keeping with the principles of children’s rights

Unit 1: Introducing Children’s Rights

• Introducing the Concept Of Human Rights

• Children’s Rights• Children’s Rights & the Media• Barriers to Realisation of Children’s

Rights• Media Representation, Children's

Rights and Professional Responsibility• Good Practice in Presenting

Information from Children’s Perspectives

Unit 2: Children’s Rights And Professional Journalism Practice

• Codes of Conduct and Editorial Guidelines

• Child Protection Policies • Children in Conflict with the Law • Getting Stories & Sources • Interviewing Children • Children in Armed Conflict • Giving Children a Voice and Child-

Centred Media • Best Practice in Journalism

Concerning Children

Mentoring Programme• In-service training and induction• Workshops on teaching and assessment strategies• Seminars on Children’s Rights and the Media• Localising Content• Online mentoring support• Evaluation and review: teacher and student feedback• Developing a network of best practice in teaching of

Children’s Rights and Journalism Practice

Seminar 1 – February 4, 2011 – Belgrade - Introduction to the children’s rights- Online platform for learning - Journalism education – practice and children’s rights- Administrative Matters for syllabus implementation

Seminar 2 – Dublin – May 19/20, 2011- Pedagogy and Practice- Stories into Rights- Rights into Stories- The Learning Environment- Professional Journalists reflecting on children’s

rights

Seminar 3 – Montenegro – September 16, 2011- Curriculum design- Reflections on pedagogy- Learning outcomes and student assessment- Project evaluation- Sustainability and future developments for

syllabus in your region

“Stories to Rights” and

“Rights to Stories”

Developing New Learning Resources

TasksEach University/Team to contribute:

1. ‘Stories to Rights’ News Analysis Suitable for classroom discussion

2. ‘Rights to Stories’ News Articles as illustration of journalism practice

3. Use Forum to discuss examples of ‘Stories to Rights’ – provide links, discuss background, analyse what is identified.

4. Use Webcourses to post ideas for ‘Rights to Stories’. Have a collaborative discussion of critique

5. Upload Final Versions into File Sharing Area of Webcourses. Deadline: May 30th 2011