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The
“AMBER ALERT”: The critical role of the media
in disseminating information on missing
children cases to public
Panos Pardalis
Communications & Press Officer
The Smile of The Child
EENA Conference
6-8 April 2016
Prague
Under the coordination of the National Centers of Direct Social
Intervention staffed by 47 specialized professionals (social workers,
psychologists, rescuers).
“The Smile of the Child” operates:
The National Helpline for Children 1056
the 116000 European Hotline for Missing Children
The 116111 European Helpline for Children & Adolescents
the Amber Alert Hellas
the ECAAS (EUROPEAN CHILD ALERT AUTOMATED SYSTEM)
At the operational level, we set at the service of every child that
goes missing:
the Search and Rescue Team “Thanasis Makris” with the
participation of certified dog teams.
a wide range of logistics and operational tools (jeeps, ATV,
motorbikes, ambulances).
“ODYSSEAS” Mobile Crisis Management Unit.
The Smile of the Child
for Missing Children in Greece
Child Disappearance
National Center of Direct Social Intervention
(Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Crete, Thessaly)
Communication with Hellenic Police.
Collections & Evaluation of Data
Mobilization of
Search & Rescue
Team Thanasis Makris
Disclosure of child’s identity
Missing Poster
Location of the child
Psychological Support & Counseling to the Child and the Family
2015
8.852 calls, of which 141 requests of support
in the search for missing children.
126 cases finally handled, out of which 119
children (94.5%) have been found.
For 7 cases of missing children Amber Alert
Hellas was activated.
The European Hotline for Missing Children
Amber Alert Hellas
When is Amber Alert activated?
“The Smile of the Child” is responsible for
the activation of the system once the
Greek National Police have authorized its
launch.
While each case is treated separately,
the criteria followed are:
Worrying disappearance of a very
young child
Indications that the well-being or life of
the child is in imminent danger
Suspicion that the child might have
been abducted or kidnapped
Availability of information which can be
disseminated
Use of the AMBER Alert Hellas will assist
in locating the child
Police determines if the use of AMBER
Alert Hellas will endanger child’s safety
Modus Operandi, Planning &
Implementation
Amber Alert Hellas operates through
the cooperation of 57 partners:
Ministries and Public Sector
Companies
Internet Service Providers
Mobile Telephone Companies &
Telephone Operators
Private Sponsors
Media and Social Media
Volunteering partners
Social Workers and Psychologists have
at their disposal:
Vehicles of Direct Intervention
Search and Rescue Team “Thanassis
Makris”
ECAAS (European Child Alert
Automated System)
European Hotline for Missing Children
116000
Partnerships
Case study- Amber Alert Activation
Runaway case-Worrying disappearance
A13-year-old girl disappears. Her grandmother calls the European Hotline for Missing Children 116000 and reports the disappearance, asking for help. The case manager collects all necessary information regarding the disappearance. It appears that the girl has met an adult via the social media and she has run away with him.
The case was considered as a worrying disappearance after the first investigation of the police. There was information that led to the conclusion that the life of the teenager was in danger.
After consulting with the police and the Prosecutor for minors, an Amber Alert was activated and the picture of the girl along with the picture of the adult were disseminated all over the country.
Case study- Amber Alert Activation
Runaway case-Worrying disappearance
As a result of the dissemination of the pictures, we received many calls at the 116000 Hotline from people that had seen the adult and the girl.
Information on their whereabouts was immediately sent to the police authority leading the search.
For 2 days every TV station, Radio station and Social media was disseminating the pictures of the adult and of the missing girl.
As a result of the huge impact of the publicity of the case, the adult was forced to stay in a specific geographical area which led the police to locate them at first and then arrest him.
The main objective of cooperation is to be able to
reach as many people as
possible throughout the
country and alert them about
the disappearance of the
child.
During the emergency cases,
time is crucial on disseminating
information on a child’s
disappearance through mass
media channels which have a
huge outreach on society and
power to mobilize.
Amber Alert and the role of Media
Memoranda of Cooperation with media stipulate:
1. The duration of the notifications (max 48 hours)
2. The frequency of screened notifications
Why We Use Press and Media
Based on a strategic plan, “The Smile of
the Child” implements and uses
press and media in order to:
1. Raise public awareness on our
cause for missing children
2. Inform the public for a worrying
disappearance of a minor
3. Collect information for the minor’s
whereabouts
The Smile of the Child & Digital
Communication
Tools
YouTubeLinkedin
Causes
Website
Why We Use Social Media
Based on a strategic plan, “The Smile of the
Child” implements and uses social media
channels in order to:
1. Raise public awareness on our cause for
missing children
2. Reach new constituents & supporters
3. Build a community of passionate
champions
4. Encourage people to take real-world actions about children’s rights
5. Enhance existing communications
programs
6. Advance our Organization’s mission
7. Enhance fundraising activities
1.Insights and analytics are valuable in
strategic planning and awareness raising
activities.
2. Social media are used as an
additional tool to traditional media
in amber alert cases.
3. Tool of direct interaction with the
public and wider family and friend
environment of the missing child.
4. Additional data and information
collection deriving from comments
from other users.
5. Useful photo material that canmaterialize in the search for a missing
child.
Utility of Social Media
in Missing Children Cases
Media and Press in Amber Alert Cases
Positive Aspects
•Use of media and press to
disseminate information on missing
children cases.
•Large outreach to the public.
•New technology widely used by
children and youth.
•Through Facebook we receive
information on these cases from a
friend or friends of the missing child.
•Location of the FB profile of the
missing child where we can collect
more information on them.
•In those cases where parents do
not have a recent photo of the
child, the FB profile picture of the
child can be used.
Media and Press in Amber Alert Cases
Negative Aspects
•Large outreach to the wider public
implies a wide exposure of the child
to the general public.
•Reproduction /publication of the
photo of the child and difficulty to
withdraw the photo upon the location
of the missing child.
•Protection of the child and his/her
family (private issues, details of the
personal life).
•A child disappearance often
becomes a topic of negative
comments from social media users (especially from teens and girls)
leading frequently to hate speech.
Challenges for “The Smile of the Child”
The enormous information received during an Amber Alert
requires extra resources for their monitoring and evaluation.
Constant and relevant communication is required to transform
followers to multipliers and be able to locate the missing child.
Due to privacy issues we cannot disclose important information
for the multipliers, hence we receive criticism from the users.
The photo of a located child is usually reproduced by media and
social media resulting in stigmatization.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Panos Pardalis
Communications & Media Officer
International Co-operation
Contact at: [email protected]
www.hamogelo.gr
