A recent survey published by Young People Now has shed light on the negative portrayal of young people by the media. The report highlighted all the dramatic differences between representation of the young and old and how the majority of reporting on young people focused on negative issues only. It also produced some encouraging findings about the growing number of articles in which more young people’s opinions were now being included.
‘We need to get current debates around young people into perspective as the majority of them have always been positive members of the community,’ said Joyce Moseley, chief executive of Rainer, a national charity for under-supported young people. Rainer’s 200 year old archives show that antisocial behaviour was recorded as far back as 1806.
The poll revealed that only 13 per cent of articles about young people featured their opinions which, low as it may seem, is an increase from the 8 per cent result from the same survey carried out in 2005. Other statistics have included a double in the number of balanced, non-biased articles in the last year. ‘The figures are encouraging, especially the increasing number of more balanced stories,’ said Steve Barrett, editor of Young People Now. ‘But there’s still a long way to go. All sections of the media should be responsible and give our young people the same share of voice that any other group in society would expect to get.’

Contact: Young People Now,
Haymarket Professional Publications Ltd., 174 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 7JP.
Tel: 020 8267 4793
Website: www.ypnmagazine.com