Interview with Alberto Dines: Improving Media for Children

Alberto Dines has been writing and making news since 1952. An author, newspaper and magazine editor, and TV and radio personality, he is a respected journalist whose work is recognised by universities in United States, Brazil and Portugal.

Since 1999, he has observed and critiqued the Brazilian media and is anchor of the programme Observatório da Imprensa (Eye on the Press), produced by Rio de Janeiro educational television and broadcast nation wide.

A critic of the quality of children's media, Dines alleges "the media has turned into a marketing gimmick. They couldn't care less about contributing to the development or growth of children. Children are seen as nothing more than potential consumers, not individual citizens."

In this interview, Dines talks about the idea behind "Observatório da Imprensa" and stresses how important it is to invest in training for producers and journalists in order to improve media for and about children. He also believes that children and teenagers should be empowered as stake holders in this process, not just "passive little beings". "They are part and parcel of the media", says Dines, "and as such must make their opinions known and get involved, because they are valuable and important audiences."

Click here for the full interview online.