At Medienlinker (medienlinker.de), we recognise that covering children and minors requires exceptional care, legal awareness and editorial rigour. Our Safeguarding & Minors Policy sets out the extra steps our team takes whenever a minor is named, pictured or otherwise identifiable in our reporting. This policy is embedded in our wider editorial standards and is overseen directly by our Standards Lead, Sandra Mayer. Any content involving a minor is subject to a dedicated review process before publication, and concerns can always be raised with us at complaints@medienlinker.de.
Why do we have a safeguarding and minors policy?
We have this policy because children deserve particular protection from intrusion, stigmatisation and harm, even when their story is newsworthy. Medienlinker Media Ltd. follows Swedish press ethics, EU data‑protection rules and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A clear policy ensures that every journalist, editor and fact‑checker applies the same care, balancing the public interest against the individual rights of the minor. For the same reason, our Editorial Policy commits us to accuracy, fairness and accountability in all reporting.
What additional steps do we take when reporting on minors?
Any article, image, video or social‑media post that identifies or features a minor automatically receives a second review by our Standards Lead, Sandra Mayer, before it can be published. That review sits on top of the standard process — each piece is drafted by a named writer, checked by an editor and fact‑checked by our fact‑checking team led by Sandra Mayer (emma.sandberg@medienlinker.de). She assesses whether naming or showing the minor is necessary, whether consent from a parent or guardian (or a relevant authority) has been obtained, and whether the information could create lasting harm. This extra layer is non‑negotiable, regardless of the story’s urgency. You can meet the whole team on our Our Team page.
What you can expect from us
You can expect that we will not publish a minor’s name, home address, school or other identifying details unless there is a clear public‑interest justification and appropriate consent has been secured. If we decide that identification is necessary, we will explain the reasoning transparently in the article. Commercial or sponsored content that involves minors is clearly labelled and receives the same safeguarding review as editorial work — see our Sponsored Content Policy. We also train all editorial staff and freelancers on best practices for interviewing and photographing children, and we regularly update our guidance to reflect new case law and societal norms.
How do we handle mistakes involving minors?
If we discover that we have published an error involving a minor — for example, a mistaken identity, an inaccurate age or an unnecessary disclosure — we correct it as a priority. Our Corrections Policy applies with additional urgency: the correction is published prominently, the original article is updated and the Standards Lead is informed immediately. Readers who believe we have failed to protect a minor’s welfare should contact our complaints desk at complaints@medienlinker.de. We will acknowledge every complaint within 48 hours and follow our formal Complaints Procedure.
What about user‑generated content or tips involving minors?
We will not publish reader‑submitted photos, videos or accounts that feature or identify a minor without first verifying the contributor’s identity and obtaining parental or guardian consent. Tips sent to Tip Us or to tips@medienlinker.de are handled confidentially; if a tip contains material about a minor, we may ask the source for further details or decide not to use it if consent cannot be confirmed. Any concerns about content already on our site can be directed to factcheck@medienlinker.de or to our complaints address.
Questions or concerns?
If you have a question about this policy or wish to report a potential breach, please contact our Standards Lead Sandra Mayer directly at emma.sandberg@medienlinker.de or the complaints team at complaints@medienlinker.de. You can also find more information about our structure and editorial independence on our Our Team page and in the full Complaints Procedure. We take every safeguarding concern seriously and will respond promptly.