Children and Mass Media - Protection of minors in audiovisual and information services
"Children and Mass Media: protection of minors in audiovisual and information services"
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A one-day conference on the subject of "Children and Mass Media: protection of minors in audiovisual and information", organised by the Press Centre of the Secretariat General of Communication – Secretariat General of Information, was held on Monday, 14th April, 2008, at the Press Centre of the SGC - SGI. The event took place on the initiative of the Minister of State and Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, with the aim opening a wide-ranging public debate on the problems associated with the protection of minors in audiovisual and information services, whatever their means of conveyance (television, internet etc).
Journalists, academics, advertisers, officials, community representatives and other stakeholders took part in the conference.
Deliberations focused on four parameters: the power of television, the influence of advertisement, the advent of new electronic technologies and the existing legislative framework. The minister stressed the need for a wide debate on the issue by the media and a roadmap or code of ethics, leading to a culture of enhanced sensitivity over the protection of minors. Public consultation on the issue will continue online at www.dialogos.gov.gr (in Greek), where all concerned parties may voice their opinions, ideas and proposals.
Recommendations from speakers addressed issues such as how to inform the public about the possible risks to minors from harmful broadcasts and transmissions, how to make complaints and activate parental control, in order to promote and ensure the best possible standards for their protection. Other related topics addressed were: the need for a consensus on the establishment of good practices between individuals and regulatory bodies; the introduction of measures and actions to enable minors' responsible use of audiovisual and on-line information services, in particular through media literacy; the encouragement of the Media industry to avoid and combat all kinds of discrimination, without infringing freedom of expression or of the press; the drawing up of codes of conduct in cooperation with professionals and regulatory authorities at national and community level. Finally, the audiovisual and online information services industry were asked to develop positive measures, such as harmonization through cooperation and the exchange of best practices between regulatory, self-regulatory and co-regulatory bodies of the State.
SGC-SGI: Children and Mass Media Initiatives
- Protection of minors in audiovisual and information services - Public Dialogue
