To think the school should have informed me DD was going to be in the newspaper?

[StickersStickers]

A friend called me today to tell me DDs photography was in a local newspaper. She was chosen as she’s the youngest in the school and her and an older pupil presented flowers to someone who visited the school. It’s a very cute photograph, and I remember signing a disclaimer saying they could take her photograph etc. But AIBU to think I should have been told? Not even about permission, I don’t usually get the paper and i wouldn’t have knows if my friend hadn’t called me.

@clary

Yes I would still be livid - not necessarily totally at the school but at the newspaper/editor and anyone involved who did not get full written parental consent for photo to appear in a local/regional newspaper

Wow really? I have never sought written consent from a parent for a photo to appear in any newspaper I have worked on. Imagine the time taken to do that. I would take it that the school was aware which DC could be photographed and which not tbh.

My kids have been in the paper a lot too and no one has ever asked me to confirm I am OK with it. I have not always been there when the pic was taken (for example at school)

Totally agree. I can’t imagine the newspaper going out to take the pics then obtaining permission afterwards. The school wouldn’t be allowing children whose parents didn’t tick the box to be photographed in the first place.

[quote Catasptrophisemycat]@clary fair enough practices may have changed - and I now work in Comms (public sector/civil service) and not in newspapers -but each and every story/photo/quote used needs (in my experience) parental or guardian consent[/quote]
So you genuinely used to ring up every child's parent in a picture? I am amazed.

I haven't worked in local newspapers for a while either, but when I did, I never did that. If I needed details I might ring the parent - say it was a story about a specific child doing some amazing fundraising or whatever, but even then, I don't think I ever would say "are you OK for us to use the picture we took of you and your child in the paper?" And the idea of calling every parent of the children in the reception class or nativity pictures...

Things have changed indeed if this is now common practice.

IT’S NOT ABOUT CONSENT!

As a matter of fact it was DDs second time in a paper this week. Every year a different paper runs photographs of the new year of Junior Infants from all the schools in the area and DD appeared in a group photo with the rest of her class. This happens every year so I knew to look out for it.

This was a one-off visit by a local dignitary (not royal family , as we’re in Ireland that might not go down well!)

It would have been nice if they'd let you know - so you could get a copy of the paper.

But the permission slip covers this.

Most likely scenario is that several pictures were taken (either by the school or a reporter) and the paper then chose which to use.

Apart from the time involved in contacting every parent, doing so wouldn’t work. The vast majority of children photographed will not be in the chosen photograph so eventually people will ignore these heads-ups as almost every time they receive one it will be a false alarm. And that's before accounting for the time spent dealing with the parental complaints when their child's photograph isn't used.

Once the school knows, they'll most likely put a link on their own social media, so you'd find out anyway but tomorrow rather than today. Or, now you know which paper the school uses for publicity, you know which one to buy or read online (chances are if it's a Local rag that it is only published weekly or does a schools round up on a set day).

@clary And the idea of calling every parent of the children in the reception class or nativity pictures... - yup but no one said that did they?

I said if I had an editorial feature on one/two kids then I'd be bloody sure that I had parental consent to use that photo and the child's comments - why wouldn't you?

OP describes two kids - youngest and eldest in school - neither hard to identify and ensure parents have agreed for them to be featured surely?

Given that I assume they will be named for copy (as not group pix) then yes consent is essential to avoid safeguarding issues as identified by IPSO in their Children's' Rights document

It would have been nice, but don't you think to at the start of a new school year and in current circumstances they have far bigger fish to fry?

I honestly think some people just look for reasons to be offended. Just move on and trust - for now - they're not trying to shaft you. You signed a consent form..

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

It takes two seconds to engage and send a quick message and it makes such an enormous difference.

No it doesn't. This is the same comment as 'Just stick the lessons online for people who are isolating' 'Just'. 'It takes two seconds'. Bullshit.

Depending on the year the child’s in it literally takes a second. DDs teacher told me when I picked her up. She did also say that they weren’t sure when it would be printed or the exact time on the radio (absolutely fair enough)

[quote Catasptrophisemycat]**@clary* And the idea of calling every parent of the children in the reception class or nativity pictures...* - yup but no one said that did they?

I said if I had an editorial feature on one/two kids then I'd be bloody sure that I had parental consent to use that photo and the child's comments - why wouldn't you?

OP describes two kids - youngest and eldest in school - neither hard to identify and ensure parents have agreed for them to be featured surely?

Given that I assume they will be named for copy (as not group pix) then yes consent is essential to avoid safeguarding issues as identified by IPSO in their Children's' Rights document[/quote]
Apologies, I thought that when you said you would seek full written parental consent you meant from any parent whose child was featured in the newspaper.

You meant from any parent whose child was named and featured in the newspaper. Again, no, not something I have ever done as a newspaper reporter or editor. I agree consent is essential, and it is given by parents, usually at the start of the school year, perhaps at the start of each term.

And like I say, I have never been contacted by a journalist to ask for written consent for the use of my child's picture - even when named as one of two or three children. The consent was given ahead, which is the only practicable way to do it IMO.

^^ I’m not taking about online lessons that obviously takes far more time.

@StickersStickers IT’S NOT ABOUT CONSENT!

Erm... OK OP

Sorry to derail thread

You're happy, child is happy, school gave consent, you "know" to look out for it every year (and this time it includes "non-royal dignitaries")

Give the teachers a break then

@Wheresmybiscuit3 again, the teacher might have had every intention of telling the parent. But seriously, it's the beginning of term, s/he had another 30 kids to think about, other parents to contact or talk to at the end of the day about (probably) more important or serious things. Plus a ton of other things in her/his head.

It really is hard to put over to people just how much information, decisions and tasks are in a teacher's head when there are thirty kids to worry about. And "ooh, your DD's photo was taken today when she presented some flowers" wll, with the best will in the world, would be around number #163 in her/his priorities.

This really isn't a big deal.

@clary - I agree to an extent (and think this thread is going a bit wayward anyway)

However:

And like I say, I have never been contacted by a journalist to ask for written consent for the use of my child's picture - even when named as one of two or three children. The consent was given ahead, which is the only practicable way to do it IMO.

How would this work in the event of something catastrophic happening in school community?

[quote saraclara]@Wheresmybiscuit3 again, the teacher might have had every intention of telling the parent. But seriously, it's the beginning of term, s/he had another 30 kids to think about, other parents to contact or talk to at the end of the day about (probably) more important or serious things. Plus a ton of other things in her/his head.

It really is hard to put over to people just how much information, decisions and tasks are in a teacher's head when there are thirty kids to worry about. And "ooh, your DD's photo was taken today when she presented some flowers" wll, with the best will in the world, would be around number #163 in her/his priorities.

This really isn't a big deal.[/quote]
Yes, I fully understand that… but thankfully that’s not my experience. My DD’s teacher was thrilled and couldn’t wait to tell us.

[quote Catasptrophisemycat]@clary - I agree to an extent (and think this thread is going a bit wayward anyway)

However:

And like I say, I have never been contacted by a journalist to ask for written consent for the use of my child's picture - even when named as one of two or three children. The consent was given ahead, which is the only practicable way to do it IMO.

How would this work in the event of something catastrophic happening in school community?[/quote]
I don't understand what you mean there, sorry (I mean I really don't). Catastrophic - like a terrorist attack?

To save the problem happening again why not just withdraw your consent? That way she’ll never be in the paper so you won’t miss it.

My DS was in the paper a few times at primary - not once did school contact me, I either saw it myself or another parent would tell me. It never occurred to me that school would have time to trawl through the local paper to alert me if this stuff.

I’ll add this thread to my A4 folder of “reasons I no longer teach” .

@saraclara I fully agree. I worked today from 7:30am, raced off at 6pm to get my baby and toddler from nursery, then when I put them to bed at 7:30 did another 3 hours' work. Still not finished. I barely had time to eat lunch today, let alone think to phone parents about photographers who may be including a photo of a child in a newspaper. I honestly don't think parents realise how busy and overworked teachers are. Our work is never enough.

@clary - I mean something atrocious whereby harm and fear comes to children

Most established journalists know how to behave in that situation, sadly some do not.

If a Vox pop of child or photo of them looking scared or terrified has been "already approved by school" then what use is parental consent?

OK - so a photo of traumatised children taken by a snapper who arrived on the scene in the wake of a terror attack, was not prevented by concerned school staff from barging in to take the picture - and got there before I was able to, in order to whisk my child home (which I think is a case where school staff would think it a good idea to get in touch)?

I actually think that is vanishingly unlikely - and the chance of the paper being insensitive enough to use such a shot in its local area still more remote.

I don’t think some teachers seem to realise that they aren’t the only overworked profession either. I’m really sorry that you are stretched so thin, and you shouldn’t have to work so many hours… but if that’s the case (and I know it is because I see a lot of teachers who are burned out) then why aren’t you all doing something about it? Perhaps it’s time that parents should know this so they can also help?

I used to work for the NHS. It became (the department I worked for and in my opinion) far too unsafe. Never enough staff. Never enough equipment. Far too many patients. I emailed manager after manager. I spoke to them too. Nothing they could do (they said) so I had to leave.

Bloody government has a lot to answer for but I don’t think they ever will!

I actually think that is vanishingly unlikely - and the chance of the paper being insensitive enough to use such a shot in its local area still more remote.

Agree - local press are the bees knees - it's the others and freelancers you need to be worried about. No local paper with any clout will "shit on its own doorstep"

Let's agree to disagree as think we are roughly on the same page

You’ve given them permission.

I’m a reporter working in the local press. I’ve worked on seven different papers during the past two decades, running the desk, subbing, reporting etc. Done every job going tbh.

I’ve not once sought permission, or been asked to seek permission, from the parent of a child we’ve featured in a school picture because a) that’s the school’s job and b) how on earth would I know the contact details of the parent?!

Every photographer who goes into school should ask the teacher before taking a photo ‘does everyone have permission to be in the paper and if not, can they move to the side?’ because it saves time when a frantic teacher rings three hours later after forgetting one of the kids didn’t have permission and you have to spike all the pics.

But I’m unsure how I would go about getting permission from parents who are not on site, especially on a daily with a v tight deadline. What was the process you used @Catasptrophisemycat?

You had the opportunity to not agree to photos. The agreement you signed undoubtedly specified that photos might be published. The school is busy trying to educate children.

@LaurenKelsey

You had the opportunity to not agree to photos. The agreement you signed undoubtedly specified that photos might be published. The school is busy trying to educate children.

The OP knows they gave consent and doesn't have a problem with them being published in the paper. They wanted someone to inform them the pictures were going to be in the paper-that's the problem, I think.