How can media stereotypes be challenged?
Stereotypes about young people can be challenged by: • young people increasing their participation in the media—get involved in your local community radio station or paper, write letters to the editor, email feedback to TV shows, call in to talk back radio etc • reducing the amount of attention given to negative, controversial issues concerning young people and increasing the focus given to the achievement of young people and their positive contribution to the community. Barriers young people face The media is an extremely complicated thing. The creation of stories is influenced by a range of factors which varies depending on the media. Things like public opinion, what sells and what doesn’t, and what qualifies as a ‘good’ news story are all things that have to be taken into account. An understanding about how the media operates is important if you want to go about changing it. How do I know this? Beck, C 2003,‘A voice for erudite youth’, The Age, December 5, http://www.theage.com.au/a
