Young reporters tell of alienation

YOUNG PEOPLE are alienated by politicians’ condescending attitudes and feel muted in political media coverage, according to young…

YOUNG PEOPLE are alienated by politicians’ condescending attitudes and feel muted in political media coverage, according to young reporters from Youth Media for Europe.

The scheme, Youth Media for Europe, was launched in Ireland to provide a media platform for young people in the run-up to the EU elections in June and the Lisbon referendum.

Across the five Euro constituencies, 25 young reporters questioned MEPs and spoke up on issues affecting them.

Eoghan Dockrell, one of the reporters in Dublin, said mainstream media for young people lacked political substance. Newspaper articles do not connect with young people and politicians speak about past glories instead of giving clear answers about their future ambitions, according to Mr Dockrell.