Media coverage has influenced both public attitudes and the development of solutions to the problem. The media are often criticized for focusing on the more grotesque cases of child abuse and for the increased focus on child protection rather than child abuse itself. One problem with child abuse discussions is that society has not achieved a consensus about what is acceptable behavior towards children; violence against children is handled differently than violence against adults. An entirely critical attitude toward the media's role ignores the reality that some problems would have continued unabated without detailed media exposure. A lack of media interest in child abuse would mean that children's rights were once again being removed from the agenda. Changes in information technology will make it possible to monitor the media more closely and communicate more promptly with authors. It should also be more possible for abused children themselves to have a more central role in telling these stories. Illustrations and 27 references