The managing editor on youth representations in media

feel we treat young people with respect, but with a smaller number of young people in the newsroom, it is difficult to know if we are right

When Chris Elliott wrote about age discrimination in this space four weeks ago, we asked if there was a progressive trend in the Guardian of language that is derogatory elderly . The column has sparked a lively debate, but it was mostly looking for views on age fewer. Perhaps readers have concerns about representations of youth?

I was particularly interested as I recently attended a conference at the Bath Spa University on children and the media. The discussion focused on how to protect children online, but also examines how young people are represented in the press. Call for journalists to think differently away from the specific - Anti-Bullying Alliance has called on the media to ensure that children who bully labeling as "rogue" because the child rather than demonizing behavior - General

Youth

Media Agency is leading a campaign which claims the support of 105 groups, calling code editors of Practice Committee - the agency responsible for tax legislation by the PCC - add the age of clause 12 of the discrimination. Currently, the article says that the press should avoid pejorative reference to "race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other physical or mental illness or disability" of an individual. (Code Guardian editorial code incorporates the editors, there are other provisions to protect children, and our community standards guidelines prohibit online attacks based on a person's age, but it would be again.) The campaign also aims YMA new clause: "Journalists must exercise a duty of care and avoid negative generalizations about children and young people."

• According exposure to research YMA Leveson, 79% of youth surveyed in 2011 were frustrated by the way they are represented. At a time when the prospects for the younger generation may seem dark - NEETS not reach a million - no wonder if the concerns are amplified unfair stereotypes. Police language and stereotypes, of course, only half of the equation is equal to equity. The other half is the inclusion. A Guardian news editor, who recently gave a lecture to students in a disadvantaged area, said: "The only thing that came out stronger from them is that they thought they were in the news for something bad (crime, drugs, etc.) or something good (sports or test results), but for the vast majority of them have never been written. "I thought it was" very true, but a large part of the nature of news. "
Given the pervasiveness of today's news - television, radio, newspapers, Internet and mobile devices - it is likely that this is where many young people see reflected his generation. But the news, however, said he has never been a perfect mirror of the society or group within it. The vast majority of life rather than ticks is not history. Articles and special features, such as our new editor said, where there is a much broader view.

In fact, the tutor receives very few complaints about the coverage of young people. While I was looking for a drive with the user name BoneIdleStudent (no code should prohibit the deterioration Free) published a commentary in the column called Chris "totally neglected" their views. Despite his comments before the launch of our new community site focused on student tutor, but I can not agree with the bad report.

From our

"by kids, for kids" site of books for children, 16 - to entrepreneurs aged 25 to re-imagine the future of the company in our work section or Brixton live review panel based on said Ed Miliband speech unemployment of youth and regular features sections such as education and family, I hope we're both asking and listening. But I realize that 25 years of education, I see through the eyes of a young person.

In this regard, it could be a piece of himself on how newsrooms are not as young as him. The financial crisis of industry and technology has greatly reduced the opportunities for young journalists, especially in the regional press. The Journal of the night when my father began as a 16-year-old "young reporter" - a term rarely heard these days - became a document on Thursday last week. As traditional doors close, we must continue to find new doors open for young voices.

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