The Committee for Eliminating Discrimination Issued Recommendations for Media Related to Seniors

PRESENTATION OF SENIORS IN MEDIA

Recommendation of the Government Representative for Human Right and the Committee for Eliminating Discrimination of the Government Council for Human Rights

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MICHAEL KOCÁB:

"Higher age of people reported is unfortunately something what makes the event in question more interesting, more curious and more suitable for publishing in media – and it is ageism. However topics presented in an unsuitable form may contribute to discrimination and social exclusion of seniors. It is necessary to take as a positive matter that seniors are mostly active people who contribute to the longevity of our society".

COMMITTEE FOR ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION RECCOMMENDS THOSE WORKING IN MEDIA:

1. Try to find new topics and widen variety of events. Active seniors are a rule not an exception.
2. Reflect the everyday life of seniors, their activities, complaints and achievements.
3. Make difference between the individuals – seniors are large and heterogeneous group.
4. Mind that generalizing and stereotype designation – more suitable is an individual approach.
5. Prior to informing on the age, consider: is it necessary to state it?
6. Beware of infantilization of seniors or their dehonestation through improper denominations; do not use only for the stylistic reasons the "alternative" denomination of persons involved, e.g. granny, little old woman, grandpa and such like
7. Strive after variety in opinions of quoted speakers and mentioned organizations; let the particular persons involved to give their opinions, use opinions and point of view of those who are directly involved and thus enlarge the spectrum of views and explanations of presented events.
8. Use comments of experts who have been involved in such issues for a long time and who can give more general explanations.

BAD PRACTICE EXAMPLES
"Pensioners will have something to do during the daytime. Early in March a new short stay hospital for pensioners will start its activities in Znojmo. The building of former kindergarten will be in the first stage attended by twenty clients."
Mladá fronta DNES 27 December 2004

"Pensioners in Brno gave beating each other because of peaches."
Lidovky.cz11 August 2009

"The British police are hunting pensioners who skate quickly or steal plugs."
Novinky.cz, 5 April 2010

"The battle of the generations for work: youth against pensioners".
Blesk, 10 February 2010