Transcript Student Community Action in Schools

Young people’s participation
though journalism
Lee Atkins, Senior Youth Worker, Warwickshire
Association of Youth Clubs (WAYC)
Young people’s participation though journalism
How are young people portrayed
in local and nationals newspapers,
broadsheets and tabloids?
 How this this portrayal make
young people feel?
 Does it represent the young
person’s perspective?
Young people’s participation though journalism
Positive
Balanced/ Negative
neutral
2004
14
15
71
2005
13
30
57
2007
23
29
48
Source: Young Researcher Network (YRN) through NYA, 2008
Young people’s participation though journalism
For 2007:
The most positive was broadsheet newspapers
with 45 per cent positive stories compared with
24 per cent positive in the tabloid press.
The most popular subjects were:
•Knife Crime
•Education, gangs
•Social exclusion and crime
Source: Young Researcher Network (YRN) through NYA, 2008
Young people’s participation though journalism
In 2006 The British Youth Council surveyed 12-25 year
olds:
• 98% felt that the media always, often or sometimes
represents them as anti social.
• 4 out of 5 thought that the media represents them as
a group to be feared. The respondents felt that this
might cause older people to be scared of them, and
may alienate young people causing more anti social
behaviour.
• They though that the media represented the majority
of them based upon the behaviour of the minority.
Source: Young Researcher Network (YRN) through NYA, 2008
Young people’s participation though journalism
Fewer than 1 in 10 articles about young
people actually quote a young person or
included their perspective on the
issue/story.
(Echo 2009)
Young people’s participation though journalism
Bad news sells.
If its bad news then its newsworthy.
The public become more aware of particular issues
(e.g. knife crime) and want more stories that cover
those issues.
The press publish more, creating more awareness,
creating a ‘thirst’ amongst the public for negative press.
YP are then arguably becoming commercialised, as
they are being portrayed in particular ways that attract
readers – they are being used by the media to sell
products.
Young people’s participation though journalism
Key Points
• The media produces more negative stories
than positive
• The media focuses on minority groups
• Bad news sells
• Journalists are under pressure to cover
negative stories
• Negative media coverage can have a
negative affect on young people’s lives
Young people’s participation though journalism
We need to:
Encourage the media to consider a balance of
positive and negative stories about young
people
Encourage young people to get involved in the
media.
Young people’s participation though journalism
Design a journalism project for YP:
How would it improve the representation of
YP?
What are the barriers/difficulties?
How will you overcome them?
Who is the audience?
Young people’s participation though journalism
My journalism work with YP always starts with
the aims that they are hoping to achieve:
• Changing people’s perspectives on YP
• Representing YP positively
• Giving YP a voice
• Explore issues
• Give advice
• Explain YP’s circumstances
• Promote activities and events to YP
• Write ‘with’ YP rather than ‘about’ YP