Ethically portraying children in the media. A comparative perspective over 22 European Press Councils’ Codes of Ethics

Abstract

"The study analyses the journalistic codes of ethics proposed by the press councils’ members of the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe (AIPCE) that set the foundation for the media representation and treatment of minors in their respective countries. The current research conducted by performing a textual analysis of the above-mentioned documents casts a comparative perspective over the definition of the child and young adult, as provided by these codes of practice, as well as over two of the most common instances in which media portray children, namely as criminals/ delinquents and as victims of criminal activity. Keywords: child, minor, crime, victim, media ethics."