This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

YOUNGSTERS are affected by the way they are portrayed in the media, according to the director of the Schools Health Education Unit. When 2,000 10- to 17-year-old Guernsey pupils were asked to rate how they were perceived by the public and the media, one in five answered ‘very negatively’.

Angela Balding, who was the consultant for the Guernsey survey, said teenagers worried about the way they were perceived by public and press.

‘I think we try to see the positive in all survey reports and the media always look at what’s bad news, but there is so much good,’ said Miss Balding.

‘That is certainly the general feeling from the Guernsey results.’

The SHEU undertakes research across in the UK.

‘There will always be areas for concern, but we would look to focus on the positives to encourage good behaviour and talk about it because then you will achieve more good behaviour,’ she said.

Miss Balding said perceptions of the media and general public portrayal

mirrored each other in the pupils’ answers.

‘We believe that Guernsey young

people compare well with young people elsewhere. You can quite rightly describe them as top-class teenagers.

‘The vast majority are positive and confident and they lead healthy, active lives.

‘They are obviously proud of their island,’ she said.

Miss Balding said youngsters got a lot of bad press, especially from the national newspapers.

‘It would be so good to give them some good press,’ she said.

‘There is a lot of good news in the results across the board, here and in the UK, and it makes the population feel good about their young people.’

* The Guernsey Young People’s Survey 2007 can be accessed online at www.guernseysurvey.gg.