Madam, – Carol Coulter (Opinion, May 20th) suggests that the media could play a role in rendering the decision-making involving children being taken into care, via court proceedings, more transparent.
I cannot share her optimism about the likely consequences of media involvement in such proceedings. Indeed, my experience of media reporting in the area of child welfare and protection in the UK and the Republic would lead me to the opposite conclusion to that of Ms Coulter’s.
The following features are often evident. Stories are characterised by a search for simplistic sound bites and scapegoats in an endless drive to boost circulation figures in a context of increased competition. Of particular concern to me as a former social worker, and in my current role of preparing the next generation of social workers, is the hostility that is often demonstrated towards social workers.
Yes, it is crucial that there is public confidence in decision- making in areas involving children being taken into care and I would support and welcome an initiative by The Irish Times which sought ideas from children, young people, their parents, frontline social workers and their managers about this at a very difficult time in Irish society.
In the process it would be interesting to ascertain how many of them felt that it would be beneficial to have journalists present in the court when dealing with traumatic and extremely painful issues.
– Yours, etc,