Coverage of Child Rights and Protection Issues: Analysis of Selected Broadcast Media in Nigeria

Abstract

Since the media inform and create public awareness on development issues of any nation, children who constitute the future leaders  should at all times be informed and reminded of their basic rights while issues affecting them should form a major part of media agenda.  Given the backdrop that print media coverage of child related issues has been inadequate, this study attempts to investigate the  extent the Nigerian broadcast media give prominence to child related issues, with particular emphasis on child rights and protections. Six broadcast stations (three radio and three television stations) were monitored for a period of three months. The overall  results showed that in all the stations, only six issues were reported on children by ABS radio, Purity Fm, Silverbird TV, and NTA, with just  three related to child's right and protections. The implication is that child rights and protections as well as child related issues are not  salient in Nigerian broadcast media despite the important part that children occupy in any nation. The study recommends that the media should intensify efforts to raise awareness and mobilize public opinion on issues pertaining to child's right and protections in the  country.