Media Youth CrimeMedia Youth Crime

By: Joel, Desmond M, By: Joel, Desmond M, Stephanie, Michael, Loni Stephanie, Michael, Loni

Our Project/ Our GoalOur Project/ Our Goal

• Using various forms of media (TV, Using various forms of media (TV, radio, newspapers). Research the radio, newspapers). Research the popular media reasons why youth popular media reasons why youth commit crime.commit crime.

• Our goal is to show you some of the Our goal is to show you some of the media myths and facts about youth media myths and facts about youth and crimeand crime

What is the Media?What is the Media?

• MEDIA :are the print (newspaper, MEDIA :are the print (newspaper, magazines, etc.) and electronic (radio magazines, etc.) and electronic (radio and television) communication and television) communication devices used for advertising. devices used for advertising.

• The role of the media is to convey the The role of the media is to convey the news (local, national, international), news (local, national, international), among other things. It may be in the among other things. It may be in the form of articles, statistics, letters to form of articles, statistics, letters to the editor, TV, etc. the editor, TV, etc.

The MediaThe Media

• Is one of the most influential tools in Is one of the most influential tools in the worldthe world

• The public has easy access to the The public has easy access to the mediamedia

• The media can influence the way The media can influence the way people think about their societypeople think about their society

The publics viewThe publics view

• Despite actual declines in youth crime Despite actual declines in youth crime over the past decade, the public’s over the past decade, the public’s perception of youth violence has reached perception of youth violence has reached all time heights.all time heights.

• Media blitzes surrounding school Media blitzes surrounding school shootings and other violent, but rare shootings and other violent, but rare incidents have succeeded in scaring the incidents have succeeded in scaring the public and creating a climate that public and creating a climate that supports tougher juvenile laws like supports tougher juvenile laws like curfews and trying kids in adult courts.curfews and trying kids in adult courts.

Cont.Cont.

• 75% of the public say they form their 75% of the public say they form their opinions about crime from what they see opinions about crime from what they see or read in the news, while only 22% say or read in the news, while only 22% say they get their primary information on they get their primary information on crime from personal experience.crime from personal experience.

• The media rarely connect crimes to a The media rarely connect crimes to a larger social context and they larger social context and they disproportionately connect people of disproportionately connect people of color as perpetrators of crime and white color as perpetrators of crime and white people as victims of crime.people as victims of crime.

Fun myths and Fun myths and facts about youth facts about youth

crimecrime

Quick quoteQuick quote

“ “ An important issue is how adults An important issue is how adults treat me just because I’m a teenager. treat me just because I’m a teenager. Sure there are bad ones out there Sure there are bad ones out there but I’m not one of them. It doesn’t but I’m not one of them. It doesn’t just hurt but it’s disrespectful when just hurt but it’s disrespectful when security figures follow me around security figures follow me around like I’m some kind of loser or like I’m some kind of loser or criminal.” ( Canada’s Teens: today, criminal.” ( Canada’s Teens: today, yesterday, and tomorrow)yesterday, and tomorrow)

• ““Unplanned pregnancies, HIV infection Unplanned pregnancies, HIV infection and AIDS, other sexually transmitted and AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases. Cigarettes, alcohol and drug diseases. Cigarettes, alcohol and drug abuse. Eating disorders. Violence. abuse. Eating disorders. Violence. Suicide. Car crashes.”Suicide. Car crashes.”

• The 21- word lead in is from a The 21- word lead in is from a Washington Post report that Washington Post report that summarizes today’s image of the summarizes today’s image of the teenager.(12/22/92)teenager.(12/22/92)

NBC/Wall Street Journal NBC/Wall Street Journal PollPoll

MYTHMYTH

• 71% of Americans 71% of Americans felt that a school felt that a school shooting was likely shooting was likely in their in their community.community.

FACTFACT

• There was less There was less than a one in two than a one in two million chance of million chance of being killed in a being killed in a school in America school in America in 1998-1999in 1998-1999

MYTH/FACTMYTH/FACT

MYTHMYTH

• People believe People believe today’s youth are today’s youth are uniquely criminal, uniquely criminal, violent, and out of violent, and out of controlcontrol

FACTFACT

• Crime rates among Crime rates among youths have youths have generally fallen generally fallen over the last two over the last two decadesdecades

• However, there However, there has been a rise in has been a rise in adult crimeadult crime

MYTH/FACTMYTH/FACT

MYTHMYTH

• Today’s youth are Today’s youth are using guns and using guns and committing more committing more violent crimes (i.e.: violent crimes (i.e.: murder)murder)

FACTFACT

• Youths account for Youths account for only a tiny portion only a tiny portion of murders. In of murders. In 1994, the FBI 1994, the FBI reported that reported that persons under the persons under the age of 18 committed age of 18 committed only 10.2% of all only 10.2% of all murdersmurders

IN CANADAIN CANADA

• According to statistics Canada, According to statistics Canada, incidences of youth homicide have incidences of youth homicide have been on the decrease for years.been on the decrease for years.

• There were 30 youths accused of There were 30 youths accused of homicide in 2001, the lowest level in homicide in 2001, the lowest level in over 30 years and 18 fewer than the over 30 years and 18 fewer than the average of 48 over the past decadeaverage of 48 over the past decade

In These Times (5/20/92)In These Times (5/20/92)

• In the early ’80s, officials hyping the “war In the early ’80s, officials hyping the “war on drugs” orchestrated media hysteria on drugs” orchestrated media hysteria about “skyrocketing” teenage drug abuse.about “skyrocketing” teenage drug abuse.

• In fact teenage drug death rates were In fact teenage drug death rates were plummeting (down 70% from 1970 to plummeting (down 70% from 1970 to 1982)1982)

• In the late ‘80s, the same media outlets In the late ‘80s, the same media outlets made official claims of a drug-war made official claims of a drug-war “success”“success”

• In reality youth drug deaths were In reality youth drug deaths were skyrocketing (up 85% from 1983-1991)skyrocketing (up 85% from 1983-1991)

Other media reasonsOther media reasons

• Poverty among ethnic/racial groupsPoverty among ethnic/racial groups• ““Broken Homes”Broken Homes”• The internetThe internet• Video gamesVideo games• MoviesMovies• TVTV• Boredom Boredom

A Grim PictureA Grim Picture

• If the media presents a distorted If the media presents a distorted view of youth and youth crime to the view of youth and youth crime to the public, the public will react by public, the public will react by calling for more action from police calling for more action from police and gov. and gov.

• The police will charge more youths, The police will charge more youths, judges will enact harsher sentences, judges will enact harsher sentences, and gov. officials will change youth and gov. officials will change youth crime laws. crime laws.

A Grim Picture Cont.A Grim Picture Cont.

• This reaction will create higher This reaction will create higher statistics, including the amount of statistics, including the amount of youths arrested, charged, and youths arrested, charged, and incarcerated.incarcerated.

• The media will notice this rise. The The media will notice this rise. The media will then report to the public media will then report to the public and the public will react, calling for and the public will react, calling for even harsher youth laws.even harsher youth laws.

• Notice any kind of pattern emerging?Notice any kind of pattern emerging?

Conclusion Conclusion

One youth from Montreal, age 15, sums up One youth from Montreal, age 15, sums up the feeling of many teens: “ Today’s youths the feeling of many teens: “ Today’s youths are intelligent but some adults don’t think are intelligent but some adults don’t think so. We are people too. Youths are so. We are people too. Youths are discriminated against and that’s not right. discriminated against and that’s not right. To get through to young people, you have To get through to young people, you have to listen to them, trust them, and respect to listen to them, trust them, and respect them. The way I look and the music I them. The way I look and the music I listen to does not make me a “bad” person. listen to does not make me a “bad” person. I am my own person.” ( Canada’s teens: I am my own person.” ( Canada’s teens: yesterday, today, and tomorrow)yesterday, today, and tomorrow)

ReferencesReferences

• http://www.cjcj.org/jjic/myths_facts.phttp://www.cjcj.org/jjic/myths_facts.phphp

• http://www.media-awareness.cahttp://www.media-awareness.ca• http://www.fair.org/extra/9403/bashihttp://www.fair.org/extra/9403/bashi

ng-youth.htmlng-youth.html• http://www.youthone.com/youthspeahttp://www.youthone.com/youthspea

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