Media training on child rights opens in Muscat

MUSCAT: The training programme for media professionals on child rights, under the slogan 'Child-Friendly Media', began on Monday. The four-day programme is organised by the Ministry of Social Development in coordination with the Media Training Centre at the Ministry of Information.

The programme aims to strengthen media capacities and deepen awareness of children’s rights within a clear rights-based framework. With regional and local experts contributing, the training seeks to establish sound methodologies for how media institutions, communities and children themselves can engage more responsibly with child-related content.

A central objective is to help participants create safe, high-quality media that reflects the principles of child protection, supports cognitive development and encourages creativity. The training also focuses on improving the quality of visual, audio and print messages intended for children, ensuring alignment with national, regional and international standards. Another major goal is preparing a group of Omani journalists to serve as national ambassadors in rights-based childhood media.

The content of the programme is structured around three main pillars: The rights-based pillar highlights the integration of children’s rights into media coverage to promote a stronger culture of rights in journalism. The knowledge pillar explores regional and global developments, including digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and examines their impact on children. Lastly, the professional pillar focuses on equipping media practitioners with the skills needed to address child-related issues accurately, sensitively and ethically.

The opening session, led by the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, introduced key concepts related to children’s rights in media and emphasised the role of media institutions in fostering child-friendly environments.

In the second session, Prof Abdullah bin Khamis al Kindi, Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Sultan Qaboos University, presented “Enablers for Maximising Benefits and Strategies for Minimising Harm in the Digital Age.” He shared findings from a recent study on how children in Oman use social media and noted that today’s digital realities require innovative approaches. He stressed that ensuring a child-friendly media ecosystem demands coordinated national and regional efforts across institutions, legislation and social initiatives.

The third session, delivered by child-rights expert Rita Karam, examined children and digital media, outlining emerging challenges and opportunities.

Noura al Subhi, Director of the Department of Child Affairs, said the programme reflects Oman’s commitment to children’s rights, rooted in Islamic values and supported by national and international obligations. She emphasised that professional, ethical media is essential for raising awareness and strengthening cooperation among child-protection stakeholders.

The programme continues until Wednesday, featuring discussions on ethical principles for addressing children’s rights in Arab media, correcting common misconceptions, and improving portrayals of children in the press and digital platforms.