View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 1, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Bristol councillor to lead guidelines on kids’ pics

By Press Gazette

Abraham: ‘appalled’ at situation highlighted by Bristol’s Evening Post

A councillor in charge of education in Bristol has pledged to bring in new guidelines on the taking of pictures of children at school events after the picture ban on a concert in the city.

The pledge from Peter Abraham, the cabinet councillor in charge of the city’s education, comes after Bristol’s Evening Post was told it could not take pictures of a concert at Colston Hall, involving 1,000 primary school children.

The paper has been covering the event for more than 25 years.

Abraham said: “I was genuinely appalled to find this situation, which was highlighted in the Evening Post. I think it’s an issue that needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. We need to produce guidelines which will enable photographs to be taken by parents and the media unless parents do not wish that to happen.”

He said he hoped new guidelines would be introduced in time for the start of the new school year in September.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

He said: “From an educational point of view, it is important to celebrate excellence in schools. We all know that a picture says a thousand words and there is educational value – not just pride – in singing children’s achievements from the rooftops.”

The photo ban at Colston Hall was prompted after the organisers claimed government guidelines meant they would have to ask the permission of all the parents of the children appearing in the concert before photography was allowed. They said they did not have time to contact all the parents, so the picture ban – on parents, relatives and the media – was imposed.

It was the latest media ban inspired by what is seen as an over-reaction to a fear of such events attracting paedophiles.

Evening Post editor Mike Lowe has suggested that parents should be asked at the start of each school year whether they want their children to appear in press photography. Those that don’t could then opt out.

Some local authorities, such as Essex County Council, have already introduced the “opt out” method of dealing with photography in schools.

By Jon Slattery

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network