Flick through any newspaper, particularly a tabloid, and you're likely to see a torrent of negative stories about young people. Headline writers crave using words such as "yobs", "thugs" and "hoodies" to describe teenagers and appear to take pleasure highlighting cases where young people have received antisocial behaviour orders.
For three years, Young People Now has campaigned to get tomorrow's generation a fairer hearing through the Positive Images Awards and has gained the backing of government ministers in the process. This week, CYP Now is continuing the crusade with the launch of the 2008 awards.
Britain's teenagers are an easy target for editors. They are commonly regarded as a problem that needs to be solved and articles rarely incorporate young people's views. Research by Mori for the Positive Images campaign in previous years revealed that 71 per cent of articles written about young people were negative, while only 14 per cent were positive. Subsequent surveys showed little improvement.
Positive Images provides youth organisations with the opportunity to get their achievements recognised and demonstrate to society what young people can do. For example, Project:Consider, a hard-hitting anti-knife and gun documentary scripted and filmed by the UK Youth Parliament, won 2007's Best Broadcast award. Eighteen-year-old UKYP London representative Angela Jhanji, says: "Winning the Positive Images award meant so much to the young people since a lot of energy went into the documentary. We felt honoured."
A panel of young people and youth sector figures will judge entries across nine categories in the spring. Winners and guests will be invited to an awards reception in June.- For more information on each category, an entry form and a list of past winners, visit cypnow.co.uk and click on Positive Images - The deadline for entries is 28 March.
Awards categories
The first five categories are designed to reward young people and youth groups, while the final four are open to media organisations.
- Best magazine produced by young people for young people
This category is open to young people and youth groups that have produced their own magazine targeting their peers.
- Best interactive media produced by young people for young people
This category will reward young people and youth groups that have created websites, games, blogs and other interactive media aimed at their peers.
- Best broadcast produced by young people for young people
This award is for young people and youth groups that have developed radio, TV or film broadcasts targeting their peers.
- Best involvement by a young person in promoting a positive media portrayal
Open to 11- to 25-year-olds who have worked to develop a positive image of young people in the media.
- Best publicity campaign by a youth group
Open to youth groups that have gained positive publicity for their activities or for young people in general.
- Best TV coverage of young people
An entry can be a one-off show or a series of programmes on terrestrial or satellite TV.
- Best radio coverage of young people
An entry can be one programme or a series of programmes on local or national radio.
- Best local press coverage of young people
For the local newspaper or website that has done the most to portray young people and youth issues in a fair way.
- Best national press coverage of young people
For the national newspaper, magazine or website that has best portrayed young people and youth issues in a balanced way.
