TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
4. Quarterly or monthly presentation on developments in the area of TIP in the region by governmental or other leading stakeholders will support the flow of information on TIP. The sessions will be formatted where the media along with key stakeholders hold a discussion and updates on major developments are shared. This will allow the issue of TIP to stay on the front burner at newsrooms as an area to which attention needs to be placed. It will create top of mind awareness and an exchange of information which does not currently exist. Lobbying 5. Capacity-building for NGOs and CSOs who work on TIP initiatives should be introduced and include areas such as how to communicate with the media, how to communicate with the public and how to be effective with their messaging. With small newsrooms, media houses are stretched and cannot cover all news. By empowering NGOs and CSOs who work on TIP, will allow the related stories to be published in the public domain so that important and impactful information can reach the public. 6. Government entities responsible for TIP projects need to be more accessible and more responsive to the media. Some journalists expressed the lack of feedback from government. Encouraging the establishment of better relationships between media and government entities overseeing TIP activities, will ensure more regular communication and information. 7. They should lobby for the implementation of Access to Information Acts/Freedom of Information acts to legislate better availability of and access to data from government. In the information age it is unacceptable that basic data of national importance is not available to the press. There is precedent in the region for such legislation in Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. 8. Media houses should join forces across borders with each other and lobby strongly through the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) to help ensure the viability of the media industry which faces many challenges. The ACM can also seek support from other associations such as Chambers of Commerce, Media Association Jamaica (MAJ), Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), International Press Institute (IPI). 6.5 Conclusion In conclusion, the analysis of media coverage on trafficking in persons (TIP) underscores the critical role that the media plays in shaping public perceptions and responses to this issue. Through an examination of various news articles and reports, it is evident that there are notable gaps that warrant attention. Media houses need to address the theme of trafficking in persons from multiple perspectives and employ techniques of investigative reporting. Most stories scratch the surface and do not uncover the plethora of story angles which can create meaningful impact. A lot of the issues remain hidden. This underreporting shields the complexity of the crime and leads to public dismissal of the social implications. Addressing the lack of proper reporting on human trafficking requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, including governments, law enforcement agencies, media organizations, and civil society organizations.
Reporting on human trafficking requires significant resources, including time, funding, and expertise. Many
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 85
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