Child Friendly Journalism in Indonesia: Compliance with PPRA and UNICEF

Abstract

This study investigates the compliance of Indonesian national (Sindonews.com) and local (Poskota.co.id) online media with the Child Friendly Journalism Guidelines (PPRA) issued by the Indonesian Press Council and UNICEF’s standards on reporting about children. Using quantitative content analysis of 282 child related news articles published in January, June, and December 2024, the research applied 117 indicators grouped into five dimensions: identity protection, language and narrative sensitivity, visual and audio representation, privacy and digital traces, and legal and journalistic ethics. The findings show partial compliance: both outlets performed relatively well in protecting children’s privacy and digital traces but scored lowest in legal and ethical compliance. Identity protection and language sensitivity reflected only moderate adherence, with repeated issues such as disclosure of sensitive details and sensationalist framing across outlets. Statistical analysis confirmed no significant differences between national and local media, suggesting systemic challenges rather than outlet specific weaknesses. These results highlight tensions between commercial pressures and child rights standards in Indonesian journalism. By applying social responsibility theory and framing analysis, this study contributes to scholarly debates on ethical reporting and emphasizes the need for stronger institutional enforcement, participatory monitoring, and trauma informed approaches to safeguard children’s rights in media coverage.