YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME |
5.4 Recommendations
While there is significant human resource, economic and information challenges, there are things media can do to improve the level and standard of reporting.
Internal Actions 1. Present stories on youth crime by consistently identifying them as such. This can be done by publishing the age of the victims and perpetrators as well as recognizing in the story whether it is about a youth or juvenile crime. Headlines could also indicate if the story is about juveniles or youth. This way youth crime stories and issues won’t get lost in the general discussion of crime. 2. Access available training and skill capacity building for journalists in the areas of data journalism, human interest reporting and investigative journalism techniques 3. Present more stories about the solutions to crime and what is being done to minimize or prevent crime. This can be done by inviting relevant and qualified contributors to provide content for an expanded more detailed and nuanced perspective. This would have the benefit of minimizing the strain on cost and internal human resources while increasing the diversity of information. 4. Publish more personal, relatable, and in-depth stories about crime as a topic. The focus would be on what individuals can do. What are the implications of crime for your everyday life? What is the economic impact of crime and how does it affect you? What are the warning signs that someone you know may be living or falling into a life of crime? What can you do to help prevent someone you know from being involved in crime? What are good conflict resolution techniques? Where can you seek help? Why it is important to be a whistleblower. How can you report crime safely etc. 5. While many media houses cannot afford to pay for security services, relocation and so on for their journalists, there still should be minimum established practical protocols and policies for the protection of journalists who are reporting crime stories. Chains of automatic action can be established for example: • Reporting issues to authorities, legal representatives, and the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM). • Safeguarding story information. • Having personal liability insurance for journalists. • Access risk assessment training for journalists which helps to determine the level of risk associated with a story and what are the safeguards. • Become members of international associations that specialize in safeguarding journalists such as Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and International Press Institute (IPI) and get their assistance as may be necessary.
A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 47
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