Jamayka Rhose Pascual

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), has launched a revised media guide to help media professionals report on children with greater care and integrity.


Launched on May 22 during a media forum at the DSWD Central Office, they introduced the “Guide for Media Practitioners on the Reporting and Coverage of Children.”

This initiative seeks to strengthen child-sensitive journalism across the country.

According to CWC Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, the guide is intended to support seasoned journalists and emerging content creators and media influencers who regularly shape public narratives on children.

“The purpose of this guideline is to create a good image and impression of children. Kayo pong nasa media, whether this is print, radio, television, or advertisement o traditional media, nagke-create po kasi kayo ng impression ng bata sa publiko,” Tapales explained.

He also noted that the growing influence of digital platforms has made children more visible and vulnerable than ever before.

The guide is based on five key principles of child-rights-based media practice which compromised of upholding privacy, honoring the child’s agency, enabling meaningful participation, ensuring dignity, and practicing sensitivity in storytelling.

To help practitioners apply these principles, the guide offers practical tips and reflection questions that can guide ethical decision-making during the production process.

It also contains tailored recommendations for covering Children in Need of Special Protection, such as children with disabilities, survivors of exploitation, those in conflict with the law, and children living with HIV or in alternative care.

Tapales emphasized that ethical storytelling is necessary to prevent harm, reduce stigma, and avoid the re-traumatization of children, especially those who have already experienced abuse or conflict.

“Ito ay mga questions na itatanong ninyo sa sarili ninyo para sa mga bagay na hindi covered ng guidelines. Habang ikaw ay gumagawa ng article mo, nag-e-edit ka ng video mo, pwede mong itanong sa sarili mo ito para magkaroon ka ng intelligent decision—edit pa ba?; do I publish na?; do I take it down?,” he said.

Tapales also reassured that media outlets will not be penalized for choosing not to follow the guide, unless their actions violate laws under the Data Privacy Act and other existing legal protections for children.

“Ito pong media guideline natin is a guide for everybody. It should have a persuasive effect. Hindi naman siya mandatory unless you violate, for instance, the Data Privacy Act,” he explained.