Why Media Portrayals of Young People Need to Change
The discussion around how young people are portrayed in the media has been gaining momentum, thanks to initiatives like the #PressChange4Youth campaign. This initiative aims to challenge and change the often negative and biased media representations of youth.
The Call for Change
Recently, Vinspired aligned with over 60 organizations to support the Youth Media Agency’s submission to the Leveson Inquiry. This submission advocated for more balanced and fair reporting on children and young people. The Youth Media Agency has proposed that age discrimination should be included in the Editors Code and emphasized that journalists should avoid negative stereotypes about youth.
Evidence of Negative Portrayal
Research highlights the extent of this issue. A 2009 survey by Children and Young People Now revealed that 76% of press coverage concerning young people was negative. Additionally, a 2011 survey by the Youth Media Agency found that 79% of children and young people felt that adults perceive them negatively.
Newspaper headlines, such as the infamous Daily Mail article regarding the England riots, further perpetuate these stereotypes. This kind of portrayal contributes to a distorted view of young people, overshadowing the positive contributions they make to society.
Changing the Narrative
To understand current opinions, Vinspired recently recorded young people’s views on their media portrayal. The results were unsurprising, reflecting a predominantly negative perception.
However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the positive impact young people have. For example, the Vinspired National Awards finalists showcase the inspiring contributions of youth to various causes. Despite this, a 2008 Vinspired survey revealed that 39% of adults are unaware of the positive actions taken by young people.
Moving Forward
The recommendations from the Youth Media Agency could be a significant step towards fairer media portrayals. It’s essential for society to recognize the unfair treatment that young people currently face and work towards celebrating their achievements.
Explore our related articles to delve deeper into this issue:
- Youth Advisory Board: why media portrayals of young people need to change
- Bad news for young people: re-thinking negative perceptions
- What’s your view: are young people unfairly treated by the media?
- (Video) This is how young people believe the media treats them…
- Young people challenge Michael Gove’s comments on youth policy
- Young people, big society