Guarding childhood, not clicks: A data-driven push for safer child abuse news reporting in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Sri Lanka is witnessing a troubling increase in child abuse cases and media reports that often prioritize sensationalism over ethical standards, compromising victim protection. Many reports include graphic content, unverified claims, and harmful language that risk re-traumatizing victims and compromising child protection. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the extent to which Sri Lankan media adhere to established child safeguarding guidelines in reporting abuse. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, analyzing a randomly selected sample of media items - including print, television, online, and social media published over the past five years. Each report was assessed using a structured tool based on national child protection standards, generating quantitative compliance scores and qualitative thematic insights. Reports were rated on a 25-point scale and categorized as fully compliant, partially compliant, or non-compliant. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were used to explore patterns by media type. Results: The findings revealed substantial variation in compliance. Newspapers (mean score 18.5) and online media (mean score 17.8) were largely partially compliant, with strengths in victim anonymity and factual reporting. In contrast, TV reports showed low compliance (mean score 9.7), often marked by sensationalism, victim-blaming, and misuse of legal terms. A significant association was found between media type and compliance level (P<0.001). Alarmingly, only 5.3% of reports mentioned prevention (95% CI: 0.65%-17.8%), highlighting a critical gap in public education and policy advocacy. Conclusion: The study underscores urgent gaps in ethical reporting, particularly on TV, and the near absence of preventive discourse. Journalists must be educated on legal language, victim protection, and the importance of including prevention messaging (e.g., helpline 1929). Partnerships with child rights organizations and regular audits of compliance with laws are essential to foster responsible journalism and uphold the dignity and rights of child victims.