This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
On November 9, 2019, the Saturday Nation published a story about the tragic death of eight-year-old Charlene Wanjiku, who drowned in a hotel pool in Diani at the Coast on October 25.
However, the publication of a photo of Charlene in a swimsuit has raised concerns about taste and sensitivity, with some readers labeling it as child pornography or a child sexual abuse image.
Mathew Mwangi, a reader, has complained about the publication of the photo, stating that it is unnecessary to show an eight-year-old girl in a swimsuit.
‘I think it’s unnecessary to show an eight-year-old girl, or any child for that matter, in a swimsuit,’ Mr Mwangi said.
He added that the media should be careful when showing small children in mainstream media and that the Nation Media Group (NMG) should have strict guidelines on how minors’ photos are shown.
Mr Mwangi suggested that Charlene’s photo could have been shown from the neck up or an alternative photo of her fully clothed could have been used.
He expressed his trust that NMG will be more careful in future when showing photos of children.
While there are no laws broken, and whether the photo is child pornography is a matter of opinion, the publication of the photo raises questions about good taste and the privacy and dignity of Charlene and her family.
