Thiruvananthapuram | The media has an important role in raising awareness about the developmental delays and disabilities in children, improving access to reliable information and challenging social stigma, experts said at a workshop here.
The workshop on Inclusive Early Childhood Development (iECD) and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for effective storytelling highlighted the need for accurate, sensitive and evidence-based reporting on children's issues, including autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Held at Taj Vivanta on Tuesday, the workshop brought together media professionals and experts to discuss child development, disability inclusion, early intervention and the responsible use of emerging technologies in journalism.
Speakers stressed that reporting on children with disabilities should go beyond medical diagnoses to examine access to healthcare and support services, the experiences of families and caregivers, and the social barriers faced by children.
They urged journalists to use respectful, child-sensitive language and ensure that reports reflect the dignity, rights and lived experiences of children and their families.
Responsible media coverage, they said, can help families obtain reliable information, improve public understanding of developmental conditions and challenge stigma and discrimination.
The workshop also examined how AI tools can assist journalists in research, transcription, translation, data analysis and content development. At the same time, it highlighted the risks of misinformation, deepfakes, algorithmic bias, privacy violations and fabricated content.
A session on "Using AI for Effective Storytelling" was led by Muralikrishna Chinnadurai, a trainer with the Google News Initiative India Network and an AI expert. He discussed the growing role of AI in journalism and the need for media professionals to use the technology responsibly.
Pratyush Ranjan, Chief Editor – Digital Services, AI Integration & Fact Check at the Press Trust of India (PTI), stressed the importance of credibility, accuracy and ethical checks while using AI in newsrooms.
In the opening session, Syam Sudheer Bandi, Communication Specialist at UNICEF, delivered the opening remarks, while V Palanichamy, Additional Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), delivered the welcome address.
The technical sessions focused on inclusive early childhood development, developmental delays, the role of caregivers and ways to strengthen healthcare services for children.
Vivek Virendra Singh, Lead – Health Specialist at UNICEF India, spoke about prioritising inclusive early childhood development, while Deepa Bhaskaran, Director of the Child Development Centre (CDC), Thiruvananthapuram, discussed developmental delays and the role of caregivers.
Amar Fettle, State Nodal Officer for Adolescent Health, School Health and DISHA Helpline Services, outlined Kerala's healthcare mechanisms for identifying developmental delays, facilitating referrals and providing early intervention and rehabilitation services.
The discussions highlighted the role of primary healthcare facilities, Anganwadi centres, community health workers and school-based screening in identifying developmental concerns early.
Experts stressed the importance of timely referrals, multidisciplinary assessments, family counselling and regular follow-up to ensure children receive appropriate support.
The CDC in Thiruvananthapuram, a Keralam government centre of excellence for child and adolescent development, provides specialised assessment, early stimulation and intervention services, besides conducting research and professional training.
Its partnership with UNICEF and the National Health Mission aims to strengthen screening, training and services for children with developmental delays across the state.
According to a partnership note, the initiative has supported the preparation of standard operating procedures and a reference manual on neurodevelopmental disorders following a statewide review of District Early Intervention Centres.
The note said 1,176 Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram nurses had been trained in early screening, while 192 health workers had participated in a training programme to strengthen District Early Intervention Centres.
The workshop sought to strengthen links among UNICEF, PIB, child-development experts and media professionals, enabling journalists to access reliable data, expert inputs and programme updates for informed reporting on early childhood development and inclusive healthcare.
