Researching the Media Representations of Children and Young People

Abstract

The introduction contextualises the monograph by exploring the context of Northern Ireland as a society emerging from 30 years of conflict. It asserts that in negotiating the impact of change and transition, children and young people living in marginalised and segregated communities, continue to experience the legacy of the Conflict and experience inequalities. It details the research methods employed, to explore the print media’s role in creating negative representations and maintaining negative ideological constructions of children and young people, in particular those who are the most marginalised, those considered anti-social within their communities and those in conflict with the law. The chapter outlines that the theoretical framework adopted is derived in critical analysis within criminology.