Children and adolescents as news sources: research brief on voice and agency of minors in Swedish and Estonian journalistic regulative documents

Abstract

This research briefly analyses Swedish and Estonian laws, journalistic codes of ethics, and newsroom guidelines that set the foundation for minors (not) being interviewed as news sources. Textual analysis of such documents shows that regardless of minors’ right to free expression, minors are mostly addressed only in victims’ roles, prioritizing protection over representation. Focus on guardian consent of under 18s is justified as protection, which also helps protect the newsroom from adverse reactions. We argue that the regulative basis of journalism reinforces the exclusion of minors from news coverage and prevents them from participating in public discussions. Therefore, the documents need updating from contemporary childhood sociology perspectives according to which minors are considered a resourceful group and distinguished into several age groups and roles, thus can be empowered to be included in news media.