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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/07/open-door-negative-portrayals-teenagers-media

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The reader's editor on… negative portrayals of teenagers in the media The reader's editor on… negative portrayals of teenagers in the media
(2 months later)
If you are reading a story in the newspapers about 13- to 19-year-olds there is a fair chance it will be about homelessness, violent deaths, cyberbullying or teenage pregnancy.If you are reading a story in the newspapers about 13- to 19-year-olds there is a fair chance it will be about homelessness, violent deaths, cyberbullying or teenage pregnancy.
It had not occurred to me to look at the Guardian's record in this regard until four pupils from Langdon Park school, in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, asked the readers' editor's office a series of questions about "stereotypes of teenagers in the media", as part of a project on citizenship.It had not occurred to me to look at the Guardian's record in this regard until four pupils from Langdon Park school, in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, asked the readers' editor's office a series of questions about "stereotypes of teenagers in the media", as part of a project on citizenship.
When I searched the readers' email queue for recent comments or complaints about that age group there was little other than the odd dismissive swipe: "'Being obsessed with', please. NOT 'obsessing about'. You're not some cheap fashion journal for teenagers." I may have some sympathy with the grammatical point but a great deal more for that section of the population so comprehensively "dissed", as one might say.When I searched the readers' email queue for recent comments or complaints about that age group there was little other than the odd dismissive swipe: "'Being obsessed with', please. NOT 'obsessing about'. You're not some cheap fashion journal for teenagers." I may have some sympathy with the grammatical point but a great deal more for that section of the population so comprehensively "dissed", as one might say.
The pupils presented 10 questions, which included: how do you think the media portrays teenagers? Why so? Do the public complain about particular articles? Do you give guidance to your journalists about what language they should use when they are writing about teenagers? How would you change the way other people view them?The pupils presented 10 questions, which included: how do you think the media portrays teenagers? Why so? Do the public complain about particular articles? Do you give guidance to your journalists about what language they should use when they are writing about teenagers? How would you change the way other people view them?
Fair questions, which are in sympathy with the views of Patrick Ness, the award-winning novelist, who wrote in the Guardian on 15 June last year, after receiving the Carnegie medal: "I can't tell you how tired I get of hearing lazy, politically expedient lies about some of the most interesting people in the country.Fair questions, which are in sympathy with the views of Patrick Ness, the award-winning novelist, who wrote in the Guardian on 15 June last year, after receiving the Carnegie medal: "I can't tell you how tired I get of hearing lazy, politically expedient lies about some of the most interesting people in the country.
"As I said in my [Carnegie medal] acceptance speech, the worst thing our present government and, in fact, we as a culture do about teenagers is that we think of them almost entirely in negative terms. What they can't do, what they aren't achieving, how much they don't read. And though of course there are always areas of concern, what gets forgotten is that these phrases only ever apply to some teenagers some of the time."As I said in my [Carnegie medal] acceptance speech, the worst thing our present government and, in fact, we as a culture do about teenagers is that we think of them almost entirely in negative terms. What they can't do, what they aren't achieving, how much they don't read. And though of course there are always areas of concern, what gets forgotten is that these phrases only ever apply to some teenagers some of the time.
"All it takes is actually bothering to meet a teenager or three and you'll see what I know to be true from meeting hundreds upon hundreds every year: they're the same curious, sensitive, smart, compassionate, funny, questioning, brilliant people they've always been. Why do we forget this so readily?""All it takes is actually bothering to meet a teenager or three and you'll see what I know to be true from meeting hundreds upon hundreds every year: they're the same curious, sensitive, smart, compassionate, funny, questioning, brilliant people they've always been. Why do we forget this so readily?"
Turning to the specific questions of the Langdon Park pupils, I think the Guardian is no better and no worse than other mainstream media in terms of writing about that particular age group, which is not saying much.Turning to the specific questions of the Langdon Park pupils, I think the Guardian is no better and no worse than other mainstream media in terms of writing about that particular age group, which is not saying much.
At the time of writing, the most recent Guardian article about teenagers was on 2 July. It was about how councils deal with homeless teenagers and looked at a number of "serious case reviews" such as the recent report into the death of 17-year-old Hannah Windsor, who was murdered by her 18-year-old boyfriend Adam Lewis.At the time of writing, the most recent Guardian article about teenagers was on 2 July. It was about how councils deal with homeless teenagers and looked at a number of "serious case reviews" such as the recent report into the death of 17-year-old Hannah Windsor, who was murdered by her 18-year-old boyfriend Adam Lewis.
The article, which appeared on the Guardian's Housing network blog, paints a picture of vulnerable teenagers such as Hannah, who was homeless, being let down by children's services and other agencies. A relevant and important story, but about teenagers rather than for them.The article, which appeared on the Guardian's Housing network blog, paints a picture of vulnerable teenagers such as Hannah, who was homeless, being let down by children's services and other agencies. A relevant and important story, but about teenagers rather than for them.
There are constructive engagements with that age group in the Guardian. On the Children's books site, for instance, there is a teen books section, although that pairing of children to teenagers may be a barrier to the older group.There are constructive engagements with that age group in the Guardian. On the Children's books site, for instance, there is a teen books section, although that pairing of children to teenagers may be a barrier to the older group.
The Guardian does not give advice to its journalists about how to write about teenagers. I don't think it would be useful to treat them as a category rather than simply be alive to them as people astride the divide between childhood and adulthood. The inevitable question is whether there should be a special column or slot for teenagers somewhere within the Guardian.The Guardian does not give advice to its journalists about how to write about teenagers. I don't think it would be useful to treat them as a category rather than simply be alive to them as people astride the divide between childhood and adulthood. The inevitable question is whether there should be a special column or slot for teenagers somewhere within the Guardian.
This idea was suggested recently by a 16-year-old who wrote to the readers' editor offering one on 4 June 2013: "This could help to broaden your audience and increase your success rates. Whether you have the column on fashion, music or celebrities, it could even vary from week to week, I believe this is a great idea. Therefore, I am suggesting I put myself forward to ask you if it would be possible in any way, for me to write even just a small column…"This idea was suggested recently by a 16-year-old who wrote to the readers' editor offering one on 4 June 2013: "This could help to broaden your audience and increase your success rates. Whether you have the column on fashion, music or celebrities, it could even vary from week to week, I believe this is a great idea. Therefore, I am suggesting I put myself forward to ask you if it would be possible in any way, for me to write even just a small column…"
A final question: would that be a bold move to give teenagers a forum or a device to consign the group to a ghetto?A final question: would that be a bold move to give teenagers a forum or a device to consign the group to a ghetto?
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