Annette Brooke MP calls for balanced representation of young people in the media

1.49.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Jun 2006

Local MP, Annette Brooke, is backing Young People Now magazine's Positive Images campaign, which is lobbying for more balanced coverage of young people in the media.

Annette Brooke, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families, has shown her support by signing an Early Day Motion applauding the improvement in media coverage of young people since the campaign was launched in 2004.

Research carried out by Young People Now and Mori found that:

• 57 per cent of press articles about young people are negative, compared to 71 per cent in 2004

• Young people are quoted in 13 per cent of stories about them, compared to eight per cent in 2004

• Three in ten press stories now provide a "neutral" view of young people, up from 15 per cent in 2004

The Early Day Motion also congratulates the winners of Young People Now's second Positive Images Awards, which aim to recognise young people, councils and media that work towards promoting a positive image of young people.

Steve Barrett, editor of Young People Now, said:

"We are delighted that so many MPs have given their support to this campaign. The media needs to take responsibility and give young people a voice, or risk alienating them as consumers and members of society. That's why our Positive Images Awards recognise media outlets that portray young people positively, and young people, youth groups and local councils that proactively seek positive media coverage."

For more information on the Positive Images campaign: www.ypnmagazine.com/campaign

Contact: Charlotte Goddard at Young People Now, 020 8267 4719, charlotte.goddard@haynet.com.

ENDS

Editors' notes:

Early Day Motion

POSITIVE IMAGES OF YOUNG PEOPLE

That this House welcomes the ongoing Positive Images campaign being conducted by Young People Now magazine to improve the media coverage of young people; congratulates the winners of the second Positive Images Awards which are being presented at the House on Tuesday 25th April; further welcomes the improvement in the situation since Positive Images launched in October 2004; notes that research commissioned by Young People Now and carried out by Mori revealed that 57 per cent. of press articles about young people are negative, compared to 71 per cent in 2004, and that young people are quoted in 13 per cent of stories about them, compared to 8 per cent in 2004; further notes that an increased number, 30 per cent, of neutral stories feature young people but do not portray a clearly positive or negative view of them; and calls on hon. Members and the media to celebrate the achievements of young people and to give a fair representation of the qualities of young people across the United Kingdom.

As of 17.05.06 the following MPs had signed:

Dawn Butler, Geoffrey Robinson, Peter Bottomley, Nigel Evans, Greg Pope, David Taylor, Gordon Prentice, John Pugh, Alan Simpson, Paul Holmes, Lynne Jones, Alan Meale, Sandra Osborne, Martin Caton, Andrew Dismore, Paul Flynn, Andrew George, Ian Gibson, Philip Davies, Julie Morgan, Bob Russell, Bob Spink, Sylvia Hermon, George Howarth, David Lepper, Tim Loughton, Rob Marris, Mark Durkan, Sandra Gidley, Janet Anderson, David Anderson, Stephen Crabb, Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Jim Devine, Lindsay Hoyle, Joan Humble, Brian Iddon, Paul Keetch, Tom Brake, Gregory Campbell, Jeremy Corbyn, Frank Doran, Mike Hancock, Meg Hillier, Lyn Brown, Helen Goodman, Jo Swinson, Iris Robinson, David Simpson, Piara S Khabra, Chris McCafferty, David Crausby, Claire Curtis-Thomas, Jeffrey Donaldson, Hywel Francis, Roger Godsiff, Rudi Vis, John Leech, Stephen Williams, David Kidney, Mark Lazarowicz, Annette Brooke, Richard Burden, Jim Dobbin, John Hemming, Madeleine Moon, Chris Ruane, Eric Joyce, Dr William McCrea, Ann Cryer, Phil Willia, Natascha Engel, Sadiq Khan, Mark Williams, Alasdair McDonnell, Vincent Cable, John Austin, Ian Austin, Jenny Willott, Janet Dean, Sharon Hodgson, Rosie Cooper, Nigel Dodds, Robert Flello, Joan Walley

Young People Now

Young People Now (www.ypnmagazine.com) is the only weekly title for those who work with young people aged 11-25. It was launched in 1989 by The National Youth Agency and has been published by Haymarket Professional Publications since January 2003. Haymarket is the UK's largest privately owned magazine publisher, with turnover approaching £200m and 1,700 employees.