Author:
Yuliia Didenko
During the war, Ukrainian children often become the focus of media attention. The way journalists cover their stories directly affects the safety and psychological well-being of the child and their family. Time and again, society asks the same question: how can we talk about children in a way that doesn’t cause further harm? It’s clear that the need for guidance on how to cover children’s stories with sensitivity is growing.
At the Voices of Children Foundation, we’ve been working for years to ensure that children’s stories about war are told in ways that do not harm them or undermine their dignity.
That’s why we’re launching the online course A Safe Space for the Voices of Children in Media, which explains how to report on children who have experienced war responsibly. The goal is to help journalists and communication professionals speak honestly and compassionately about difficult topics—while prioritizing the safety of the child.
At the Voices of Children Foundation, we’ve been working for years to ensure that children’s stories about war are told in ways that do not harm them or undermine their dignity.
That’s why we’re launching the online course A Safe Space for the Voices of Children in Media, which explains how to report on children who have experienced war responsibly. The goal is to help journalists and communication professionals speak honestly and compassionately about difficult topics—while prioritizing the safety of the child.
The course is now available on the Public Media Academy platform from Suspilne (in Ukrainian) and also has English subtitles available on our YouTube channel.
It consists of eight short lectures by two experienced psychologists from Voices of Children—Olena Lisova and Yuliia Tukalenko. In a simple and accessible way, they explain the most important principles of ethical interviewing of children: from understanding trauma and using stigma-free language to building trust with the child and their family, working professionally and responsibly.
It consists of eight short lectures by two experienced psychologists from Voices of Children—Olena Lisova and Yuliia Tukalenko. In a simple and accessible way, they explain the most important principles of ethical interviewing of children: from understanding trauma and using stigma-free language to building trust with the child and their family, working professionally and responsibly.
Ethical Interviewing: Key Topics of the Course
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Lecture 1. Ethical Guidelines for Journalists Working with Children During War
An introduction to the course goals, the importance of an ethical approach to covering children’s stories, possible consequences of media exposure for the child and their family, and some points about motivation and readiness to share their story publicly.
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Lecture 2. Specific Features of Covering Topics Related to Mental Health
The media professional’s role in combating stigma and reducing stereotypes, the importance of accurate naming and people-first language, the problem of clickbait, the need for caution when disclosing a child’s mental health status, and fundamental ethical principles for covering mental health topics. -
Lecture 3. What Journalists Should Know About the Manifestations of Psychological Trauma in Children
Clarifying the differences between a traumatic event, stress, and psychological trauma; identifying events that may cause trauma; consequences for mental health; symptoms of psychological trauma and signs of acute distress; recommendations for stabilizing the child’s well-being. -
Lecture 4. Fundamentals and Psychological Aspects of Ethical Interviewing of Children: The Safety Formula
Key elements of a “safety formula” for conducting an ethical interview with a child, specific features of a safe space, practical recommendations, signs of trust from a child, and why questions starting with “why” should be avoided. -
Lecture 5. Preparatory and Introductory Stage of the Interview
How to mentally prepare for the interview, working with parents or guardians, setting up the space, the journalist’s psychological readiness, the main points of the informational preparation, and tools for relieving tension.
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Lecture 6. Demonstrating the Stage of Establishing Contact.
The first moments of establishing contact, steps for building a safe dialogue, the importance of a sense of control for a child, the interview time frames, examples of introductory conversation, and common mistakes. -
Lecture 7. Stage of Open Narrative and Active Questioning
Psychological nuances of the main interview stage, common mistakes, how to structure the conversation safely and effectively, the media professional’s role, how to ask open-ended questions properly, and what to do if a child goes silent or talks too much. -
Lecture 8. The Therapeutic Potential of the Interviews
How the interviews can become a resource for the child, creating conditions for personal strength, questions that help activate resilience, how to ethically cover the topics of violence or suicide, and examples of gentle interview closings that support post-traumatic growth.
For the second year in a row, the Foundation is also holding in-person training sessions for journalists, prosecutors, law enforcement, and members of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). At a recent training in Kyiv, participants from across the country practiced working with children who had experienced war trauma, including deportation. Experts also spoke about how media professionals and law enforcement can protect themselves from emotional burnout.
Our position is simple: every child’s story deserves respect and sensitivity. That’s how we build a future where the voices of children are heard—safely and confidently.
All course lectures are now available for free on our YouTube Channel (with English subtitles).
We invite everyone who works with children to join the training and help create a safe space for the voices of children.
Our position is simple: every child’s story deserves respect and sensitivity. That’s how we build a future where the voices of children are heard—safely and confidently.
All course lectures are now available for free on our YouTube Channel (with English subtitles).
We invite everyone who works with children to join the training and help create a safe space for the voices of children.
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