Young People Now is calling for entries for its second Positive Images Awards, to be presented next spring. The awards, which are open to youth groups, young people, local authorities and media outlets, aim to celebrate positive views of young people in the media and proactivity among groups and councils in showing affirmative images of young people.

Since Young People Now commissioned exclusive research from Mori last year, which showed that more than seven in every 10 press stories about young people are negative, and only eight per cent of stories about young people actually quote them, media demonisation has continued apace. The word "hoodie" looks set to replace the word "yob" as the headline-writer's favourite. But there are also plenty of examples of good practice in the media, and that is what these awards hope to highlight.

Children's commissioner Al Aynsley-Green (pictured above) has written to 100 editors of regional newspapers to see how he can work with them to celebrate the achievements of children and young people, and balance the more negative stories on antisocial behaviour and crime. "I recognise that regional media already do a great deal to celebrate the talents of children and young people and this gives us an encouraging foundation on which to build," he says.

One newspaper that has taken this on board is the Swindon Advertiser, which ran a series of articles about the issues facing local teenagers over the course of a week in September. Editor Mark Waldron says: "I thought we'd get a mixed bag of letters in response, but they were all positive." Other local papers ran positive articles to mark national Youth Work Week earlier this month, an example of what can be achieved when youth services promote their good work.

Last year's winners included Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, the then 21-year-old editor of Brixton-based LIVE magazine. Since winning the award Jordan, now 22, has gone on to write for Time Out magazine and do work experience for a number of organisations including Arsenal magazine The Gunners and the South London Press. LIVE magazine is looking into rolling out across London as well as establishing sister titles in New York and Paris.

Jordan says that more young people have got involved in the magazine, in a more structured way.

"Hopefully young people like myself in the media will try to give other young people a good name," he says. "For every young person doing negative things, there's a young person trying to build a business, go to school, get an education and better themselves."

CONTACT US

- For more information on each category, an entry form and a list of past winners, visit www.ypnmagazine.com/campaign or call Charlotte Goddard on 020 8267 4719

- Deadline for entries is 9 January 2006

POSITIVE IMAGES AWARDS CATEGORIES

Best local press coverage

For the local newspaper that has best portrayed young people and youth issues.

Best national press coverage

For the national newspaper that has best portrayed young people and youth issues.

Best radio coverage of young people

An entry can be one programme or a series of programmes on local or national radio.

Best TV coverage of young people

An entry can be one programme or a series of programmes on terrestrial or satellite television.

Best online coverage of young people

For online media that portray young people positively, not web sites that provide services for young people, unless these also include positive coverage.

Best publicity campaign by a youth group

This category is open to all young people or youth groups that have made an effort to gain positive publicity for their activities.

Best involvement by a young person in promoting positive media portrayals

This category is open to individuals under the age of 25 who have been proactive in working to develop a positive image of young people in the media.

Best magazine or web site produced by young people for young people

This category is open to youth groups that have produced their own magazine or web site targeting their peers.

Most youth-friendly local council

This category is open to councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that are attempting to celebrate young people as part of their long-term strategy. This may include the activities of a youth champion, participation events, attempts to promote a positive image of young people in the local media, or evidence of action being taken to redress negative media coverage or imagery.