Perception of community members on mass media and the promotion of child rights in Effutu municipality.

Abstract

This study investigated community perceptions of mass media's role in promoting and protecting children's rights in the Effutu Municipality in the Central region of Ghana. Employing a mixed-method approach with an explanatory sequential design, the research surveyed 400 participants from four communities and conducted in-depth interviews. The study revealed significant gaps in media coverage of child rights issues, characterized by limited, sporadic, and often sensationalized reporting. Key findings indicated that the media has not effectively created public awareness of its role in child rights protection, and coverage usually fails to translate awareness into concrete action. Most respondents perceived media reporting on child rights as eventdriven rather than consistent. Challenges identified included insufficient resources for media organizations, lack of specialized training for journalists, and cultural norms that hinder coverage. Despite these limitations, the study found that media coverage has led to some positive changes in child protection policies. The study concludes that a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach is needed to enhance the media's role in child rights promotion. Recommendations include developing guidelines for media houses to allocate specific content to child rights issues, establishing dedicated child rights desks in local media organizations, and implementing comprehensive training programs for journalists.