In Japan, children have an unusual degree of independence. At an early age, Japanese children can make trips on foot without the presence of an adult; they walk to school, buy groceries from neighbourhood shops, and run errands by the time they are 7 years old. This is possible because Japan’s culture believes children should be able to get around by themselves, and this informs their policies. For example, Japan requires car buyers to show proof of off-road parking, keeping cars off the road and making pedestrians visible to drivers. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here