The Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) adjuications
Sugar Magazine (12 April 2005)
Article
“Forced to sell my body...by my sister” Real Life feature article, March 2005 issue of Sugar magazine.
The article featured a young woman in Zambia who, having lost her father, was forced by her sister and cousin to engage in prostitution at the age of 11 to help feed her family.
The article was written in the first person, and clearly demonstrated the pain and guilt endured by the young girl, but also described how a sexual relationship developed at 13 resulting in pregnancy.
The young woman joined World Vision's Sanduka Project and was helped through the birth. She continues to receive financial help from the Project that has enabled her to to support her family, resume schooling and leave prostitution behind - a phase of her life that she clearly regretted. Her cousin has since died of Aids.
At the end of the article Atomic Kitten and one of the magazine staff were featured who had visited the Sanduka Project in Zambia.
Complaint
The complainant had received a response from the editor, but was dissatisfied that this did not address the main concern that selling your body for money was illegal, and this was not mentioned within the article.
The article was reviewed in the context of section 3.3 of the TMAP Guidelines:
3.3 Where under-age sex or sexual abuse is discussed it will be clearly stated as illegal. Under-age sex will be discouraged and the age of consent clearly stated.
The Complaint was Upheld
Rationale
The Panel, in reaching their conclusion took into account a number of mitigating factors, most notably the general tone of the article which warned of the emotional and physical horrors of prostitution; that the article clearly set out the dangers of unprotected sex; and also the positive impact of charities which enable people to regain control of their lives. The panel was keen to stress the importance of magazines reflecting the lives of young girls in other parts of the world, and that this article was praiseworthy in that respect.
The Panel also noted that prostitution in Zambia is not illegal.
The Panel also noted that a warning that underage sex is illegal appeared on pages 124 and 125 of that issue of the magazine.
As well as prostitution, which was graphically described in terms of sexual abuse, the young woman engaged in a sexual relationship whilst only 13, and fell pregnant. The Panel noted that there was no comment on the illegality of this relationship, which in the UK could result in criminal charges being brought.
The Panel, whilst recognising that this was not a UK story, determined that the article should have directly referred to underage sex being illegal in the UK because the readership is predominantly UK-based and the focus of the Guidelines. There were editorial concerns as to how this might be achieved given the context, but whilst not a direct concern for the Panel, there were views as to how this could have been brought about without distracting from the storyline, including a separate box or incorporation into the Atomic Kitten report.
The Panel however recognised that the Guidelines were not absolutely explicit on country of origin, and TMAP will respond to this issue by clarification of the Guidelines to Editors - that they must refer to the illegality of underage sex in the UK regardless of the origin of any story that reports on underage sexual activity or abuse as set out in section 3.3 of the Guidelines.
Formal Recommendation
TMAP will circulate a note to all Editors of teenage magazines falling within the remit of the Panel, stating that regardless of the source of any material, articles published in magazines for a UK audience must adhere to the Guidelines and contain appropriate statements.
Dr Fleur Fisher
Chairman of TMAP
Sugar Magazine (14 July 2003)
A complaint about an article contained in the May 2003 issue of Sugar magazine entitled 'Are you cool about condoms?' was not upheld by the Panel.
The article gave readers the opportunity to order a free condom online as part of a Marie Stopes International contraception campaign. The survey that prompted the article showed a high level of ignorance amongst 11-15 year olds about sex and contraception and this demographic was a reflection of the core readership age of Sugar magazine. The panel was concerned by the statistic that 4 out of 10 people surveyed believed it was illegal to purchase condoms. The panel also noted that a proportion of the young people who answered the survey had already embarked on some form of sexual activity.
The panel emphasised the importance of the condom as one of the most effective methods of contraception and barrier to sexually transmitted infections available to people today and the need to remove 'sordid sex' connotations from condom use. The panel found that the article achieved this by highlighting the importance of condoms to help prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections. The panel also found that the way in which the reader could obtain the condom was inclusive and unobtrusive because it sought to educate and connect with all its readers irrespective of whether they wished to order the condom.
The article satisfied clauses 3.6 (by encouraging readers to take a responsible attitude towards sex) and 3.1 (reflecting the typical concerns of the magazines readership) by dispelling dangerous myths about condoms and educating the reader about condom use.
The article also satisfied clause 3.4 (contacting relevant professional organisations) and 3.7 (recognising the important role magazines play in the field of sex education) by using a survey in association with an established sexual and reproductive health agency, Marie Stopes International UK, to educate young people by enabling them to become familiar with condoms in an environment in which they felt comfortable.
Two formal recommendations were made. Firstly 'Sex Shock 3' of the article inaccurately stated that that is illegal for a person under the age of sixteen to have sexual intercourse. It is not illegal for a person under the age of sixteen to have sexual intercourse: it is unlawful (subject to very limited exceptions) for a man to have sex with a girl under the age of sixteen. The consent of the girl is immaterial. Magazine articles should be careful to make this distinction.
'Sex Shock 5' informed the reader that they could visit their own doctor. Any article addressing sexual health should inform the reader that they can visit any general practitioner for help not just the general practitioner with whom they are registered.
Further details from Kerry Neilson on 020 7400 7520 or kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk
Mad about Boys, Sugar and Smash Hits (25 June 2001)
A complaint about Mad about Boys magazine was upheld by the Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) at its June meeting. The Panel felt that teenage magazine editors are responsible for offering a balance in magazine editorial, and that this balance had not been achieved by the emphasis on boys in the magazine. In particular, one of the boys' chat-up lines: "Your clothes look good on you but they'd look better on my bedroom floor", was neither relevant, nor responsible, and should have been subject to some editorial intervention.
Complaints regarding Sugar magazine and Smash Hits were not upheld.
Details from Kerry Neilson on 020 7400 7520 or kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk
Contact: Kerry Neilson , TMAP secretariat, kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk, 0207 400 7520
Teenage
Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP)
28 Kingsway
London WC2B 6JR
tel: 0207 400 7520 - fax: 020 7404 4167 - email: kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk - web: www.tmap.org.uk -
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