Reporting on Children in the Media is an Honours level, accredited certificate course offered by
MMA in partnership with Wits School of Journalism. It also counts towards an Honours Degree
in Journalism at Wits.
The course aims to:
● Empower participants with knowledge and skills in children’s rights, ethics, and child-
related law;
● Enhance participants’ confidence and skills when reporting on children, and enable them
to identify and follow best journalistic practice;
● Develop professional expertise through theoretical and practical learning;
● Develop participants’ interviewing and story-telling skills;
● Enable participants to manage their own personal challenges and mental wellness when
reporting on children’s issues;
● Introduce participants to a wide range of child-related experts, as well as to school-going
learners, to ensure a diverse and informed perspective on issues that affect children;
● Contribute to the creation of an ethical media and human-rights centred approach to
children’s reporting;
● Advance the creation of a media that not only values but also reflects diversity of
opinions: including the opinions of children.
“Being part of the Reporting on Children in the Media short course has empowered me to be
confident when writing and reporting on stories involving children. There’s a sense of pride
when you know you have exposed an unjust matter or given a voice to a child who normally
would have been voiceless or ignored.”
The course will take a blended learning approach. We’ll begin with a three-day, face-to-face module in Johannesburg (11 - 13 September 2023) which will introduce the basics of child-focused reporting, and explore the professional/personal challenges that arise when covering such
stories.
This will be followed by a four-week online teaching process, involving:
● Weekly Zoom seminars with a wide range of experts and school-going learners;
● Extensive group and individual coaching/mentoring via WhatsApp with media trainer, and other media/child rights practitioners;
● Practical journalistic assignments and group interaction.
You’ll also have access to an extensive online library of resources, journalism handbooks, and
best practice examples.
After the course, you’ll have a month in which to produce a child-focused news story (for print,
radio or TV) of your choice. You’ll receive mentoring via WhatsApp to help you develop your story – and meet any challenges.
● Course attendance, participation, and the completion of weekly assignments (30%);
● An Open Book exam, based on a case study, which will test your ability to apply
child-related legal and ethical knowledge gained during the course to a “real world”
situation (30%);
● A child-focused news story/feature which you will produce for print, radio, or TV (40%).
The Reporting on Children in the Media Honours level accredited course is R9850. MMA is offering 5 bursary seats into the course which will bring the course costs to R7000.00. Please note that all bursaries are on a first come, first basis.
● To apply for the bursary, share a motivation letter from your current editor/supervisor that will support why you
should be awarded the bursary for the course. Send this motivational letter to
phakamilek@mma.org.za once you have completed the application form.
The motivational letter should also include acknowledgement from your editor/supervisor that
the course will require you to invest time into the course work.
Please note that the awarding of the bursary will be the sole discretion of MMA.
● If you live outside Johannesburg you’ll also be required to cover your travel and
accommodation costs for the three-day, face-to-face seminar in September 2023.
And, because much of the teaching will be done online and via WhatsApp, you should
budget for data costs too.
