Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Least emphasis on “Prominence factor”:One of the ways to find out whether or not a subject is being provided priority in a newspaper is to look at its front page. For instance, the front page story, ‘2-yr-old 'sacrificed', tantrik detained’ in New Indian Express of October 31, 2011 shows how the children in Odisha are vulnerable to superstition. Similarly, a lead article on the editorial page of The Times of India, ‘The Child Malnutrition Myth’ provides an analysis on the malnutrition problems in different States. However, when it comes to child development stories, the newspapers seem to have ignored the prominence factor. As the above tables show, the fact that only seven stories have been published in two newspapers in two months is an indication of how child development issues are sidelined in the media. Lack of seriousness: Editorial page holds the newspaper’s views. It is on this page where a newspaper can extensively criticise, suggest, and recommend to the government on policy matters concerning child development. The coverage of child development stories on the editorial page shows seriousness of a newspaper on the issue. The data shows that over a period of two months, the two newspapers have carried just seven editorials. For Odisha, there is just one editorial that appeared in New Indian Express of November 24 (Malnutrition Rates Expose Odisha Odyssey Myth) where the newspapers has highlighted how the mid-day meal scheme has failed to serve its purpose in tackling malnutrition among children.
Invisible coverage: Most articles have appeared on the inside pages as snippets and also without pictures. However a few exceptions have been found where the articles were accompanied by illustrations.
An example: “Poverty forces mother to sell girl child”, published on October 29, 2011, in New Indian Express. This report tells us about a 36-year-old woman from Champakhunta village, who was forced to sell her 5-year-old daughter to a childless couple when she was unable to raise her. The report also says how she was kept away from most of the government social security measures.For instance, she was excluded from the BPL list though she did not own landand was deprived of benefits such as widow pension, subsidised rice, and IAY house.
Lack of sustained coverage: Absence of sustained coverage to child development stories in English newspapers published in Odisha is another important factor.Although, New Indian Express had more development stories compared with the Times of India during the period under study, both papers have showed lack of sustained coverage. However, in some urgent cases that invite public involvement and outrage, the coverage was quite stable. October 22 to 26 saw a continued reporting on a teenage gang-rape case from Bhubaneswar in both newspapers.
Issues that got maximum coverage: The prominence factor cannot be considered for a particular child development issue. The study also took into consideration infant/child abandonment, tribal children development and child trafficking. A consistent reportage of child abandonment was also observed. On November 14, a shocking incident was reported from Baripada (Baby girl found abandoned) where a newborn girl was found buried in the bund of a pond in Mayurbhanj. The report recalls earlier incidents of similar nature where two newborn girls were found packed in a carton in a railway station. On November 5, a few days-old girl was found near a garbage bin. In an earlier incident, the people had found a man attempting to throw his baby daughter into a drain at Jharpada in the State capital.
This situation demands both action and visibility. Media, especially news media, cannot remain a mute spectator to this situation.As the guardian of society, it should do its bit to improve the condition.
Conclusion:
In a democracy, the role of the press assumes greater significance in forming public agenda on several issues. It can also be an effective tool to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.
The mainstream media are fast becoming commercial enterprises. Some of them have become the mouthpieces of select political parties or fundamentalist groups. Given the state of child development in Odisha, the newspapers aren’t giving sufficient and expected coverage to the issue.
The newspapers must be able to look out for these issues in order to maintain a sustained coverage, but in reality, very little has been done to create an impact either on the masses or on the policy-makers.
Children constitute 12% of Odisha’s population; their exclusion from the print media is a matter of concern. Lack of respect and recognition for children’s rights is a reflection of how the newspapers are insensitive to children’s issues. Odisha has enough issues that need urgent reporting in the mainstream newspapers. The inadequacy of reportage on child development is not justified and must be scrutinised and worked upon with immediate action.
News media must contribute in the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children.
Neha Bhandarkar is a student at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Odisha. This study has been supervised by Sucharita Sahoo.
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