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Abstract:

The subject of parenting is widely discussed in the media. The demand to integrate work and family life, the rise of online learning during the COVID-pandemic, and its impact on the parent-child relationship; news reports on parenting are ‘hot’. News, however, is not just a neutral window on the world. News frames issues, individuals and groups in a particular (political, economic, social) way. Often enough, news reports covering research on parenting issues include practical applications. Within these tips and tricks lies a judgment on what counts as desirable parental behavior. A prescription of ‘good’ parenting enforced by scientific ‘evidence’ on what works (“Research shows”). Central to this contribution is a ‘case study’ of one particular Flemish newspaper, De Morgen. A high-quality newspaper that systematically reports on parenting research. By means of a ‘slow reading’ of this article on screen time, the contribution intends to deconstruct the parenting discourse used in the media. The analysis shows that the media is in favour of a generic view on parents and parenting jargon as well as a technical view on parenting, addressing parents as ‘technicians’ that do their best to follow scientific protocols. The chapter concludes by questioning what this technical framing means for a parent-centred approach in professional practice.