Child sexual abuse and exploitation is a challenging subject to report. The National Office for Child Safety (NOCS) has commissioned the University of Canberra News and Research Centre to create evidence-based media guides to support journalists and editors when reporting and writing about current or historical child abuse.
The guides are designed to encourage reporting that raises community awareness of child sexual abuse, reduce stigma, and empowers victim survivors when they share their personal stories wth the media.
Discussing child sexual abuse can be retraumatising for a victim-survivor sharing their story, but also when reading a story.
These guides provide advice on appropriate language and terminology, and what to avoid, as well as how to develop and frame stories that are victim survivor-centric and non-stigmatising. They also provide information on sensitivities to consider when engaging with victims and survivors.
Or, access the quick reference guides: