Every person under 18 deserves protection from harm, especially when their story is told in the news. This policy explains the extra care BuzzLayer takes when covering minors, what you can expect from our reporting, and how to raise a concern if you believe a child’s welfare has been overlooked.
Why does BuzzLayer have a special policy for covering minors?
Covering children and teenagers requires a higher standard of editorial caution because their vulnerability means the consequences of publication can last a lifetime. BuzzLayer follows Canadian journalism ethics and child‑protection principles to ensure that no minor is exploited, stigmatised, or identified without clear public‑interest justification.
Any article that names, quotes, or shows a minor receives an additional review by our Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead, Priya Sharma, before it can be published. This second pair of eyes checks that the story’s benefit to the public outweighs the potential risk to the child, that consent has been obtained appropriately, and that identifying details are used only when absolutely necessary.
What does this mean for someone reading a story about a minor?
If you read an article on BuzzLayer that involves a child or teenager, you can trust that identifying information was not included lightly. Our reporters and editors ask themselves whether the minor’s identity is essential to the story—and if it is not, we remove names, faces, and other signposts.
Where a minor is quoted or photographed, we require parental or guardian consent unless the story is clearly in the public interest (for example, reporting on a serious safety issue or a court case). Even then, we weigh the potential for long‑term harm. Every piece is also reviewed against our Editorial Policy and Fact‑Checking Policy to ensure the highest accuracy and fairness.
How this works in practice
Consider a story about a 15‑year‑old app developer from Toronto whose tool helps students with homework. The reporter, Chris O’Brien, contacts the family, explains the angle, and asks for the teenager’s and a parent’s consent. Once the draft is ready, it goes to Managing Editor Maya Singh for a headline review. Then Priya Sharma reviews the piece specifically for minor‑safeguarding: she checks that the child’s school, exact address, and social‑media handles are omitted, that the tone does not pressure the teenager, and that the family has a chance to review their quotes. Only after Priya signs off does Editor‑in‑Chief Alex Nguyen approve publication. The final article notes the minor’s first name only, with a parent’s consent statement.
BuzzLayer is owned and operated by Northern Beacon Media Inc., an Ontario corporation (Ontario Business Registry company number 1003194827) with its registered office at Unit 12, 95 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 1G4, Canada. Our funding includes display advertising, affiliate links, and sponsored content—but commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions, especially those affecting young people.
Who is responsible for this policy?
Editor‑in‑Chief Alex Nguyen has ultimate responsibility for all editorial decisions, including any story involving a minor. The day‑to‑day oversight of the policy rests with Priya Sharma, our Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead, who conducts the required additional review. You can meet the full editorial team on our Our Team page.
What if I have a concern about a story involving a minor?
If you believe a BuzzLayer article has treated a minor unfairly, revealed too much personal information, or failed to obtain proper consent, please contact our complaints team immediately. We take every concern seriously and will respond within two business days. You can reach us at complaints@buzzlayer.org. For a full description of how we handle complaints, see our Complaints Procedure.
In short
BuzzLayer puts the welfare of children and teenagers above any competing news value. Every story that touches a minor is carefully weighed, reviewed by our Standards Lead, and published only when it serves a clear public interest without harming the young person involved.