09 January 2009
Young NCB members have today released key
findings from a research project they completed on the portrayal of
young people in the British media, and the impact of negative media
coverage on young people's lives.
The project arose out of concern expressed by young people that
they are portrayed in an increasingly negative light in the media,
with a heavy focus on the small minority of young people involved
in crime and antisocial behaviour.
The research concluded that pessimistic news coverage of young
people has a negative impact on the way in which adults view them
and the way in which young people feel about themselves. It also
found that journalists may feel pressurised to write negative
stories about children and young people, as they are deemed more
newsworthy than positive portrayals.
Young researcher Naushin Shariff said, "Negative media coverage
affects young people's opportunities in life when they are judged
by how they look, are treated differently and subjected to
stereotypical views. I have made heads turn and had adults cross
the road when I wear my hood up because I was feeling cold. I am
not an aggressive person, nor a "feral youth", but am treated like
one. It is only a minority that cause trouble, yet the media seem
to label us all."
Young researcher Emrys Green said, "I have found the media
project to be invaluable in learning more on how to conduct
research with young people, and I have been amazed at some of the
responses. I'm thankful to everyone who gave their views to help us
along the way and to all the people who helped pull it together.
The findings provide a very useful insight into the concerns of
young people and I hope it will influence
change."
- Ends -
Notes to editors
The project, led and carried out by a core group of four young
people aged 15 to 18, with seven others contributing to the
planning and dissemination stage, was carried out in partnership
with the National Youth Agency's Young Researchers Network. The
group of Young NCB members designed an online survey, held focus
groups, conducted interviews with journalists and monitored media
coverage of young people from national and regional newspapers and
television news bulletins.
The Young Researcher Network is a network of 16 partner
organisations, including NCB, led by the National Youth Agency that
supports and encourages young people's active participation in
youth led research to facilitate their voice influencing policy and
practice. For further information visit
http://www.nya.org.uk/information/100582/100585/youngresearchernetwork/.
NCB's mission is to advance the well-being of all children and
young people across every aspect of their lives. As a
membership and infrastructure support agency for the children's
sector in England and Northern Ireland, NCB provides essential
information on policy, research and best practice for our members
and the members of our wide range of partnership bodies which
operate under our charitable status and are based in our London
headquarters. For further information visit http://www.ncb.org.uk/
For further information on this release contact:
Clare Quarrell, Clare Lilley - NCB Media Office
Tel: 020 7843 6044/6045/6047/07721 097033 Email: media@ncb.org.uk