Scroll through the news and you might think young people are society’s biggest problem: reckless, lazy or dangerous. But that story couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, the media has a major image problem when it comes to youth coverage. A recent study found that 81% of youth crime-related headlines in Queensland were negative, while the Foundation for Young Australians revealed that three-quarters of The Australian’s stories about Gen Z used stereotypes like ‘lazy’ or ‘lacking resilience’. Even worse, most articles didn’t include a single quote from young people themselves.
It’s no wonder that two in three young people say the media has no idea what their lives are really like. And that kind of one-sided storytelling has consequences, from reinforcing racism and public hostility to limiting opportunities in education and employment.
Shifting the narrative
That’s where NAPCAN’s Fair Youth Coverage campaign comes in. It’s a bold, national, youth-led movement calling for fair, ethical and strengths-based reporting on children and young people.
At the heart of the campaign is NAPCAN’s Youth Speak Out Council (NYSO), 18 passionate young leaders from across Australia who’ve experienced firsthand how damaging headlines can shape perceptions and self-worth. Together, they’re working to flip the script, helping journalists tell stories that reflect who young people truly are: creative, resilient and full of ideas.
100 Youth, 100 Days
Fair Youth Coverage’s flagship initiative, 100 Youth 100 Days, puts young people back in charge of their own stories. Co-designed with youth leaders, the campaign spotlights 100 diverse voices from every corner of the country: advocates, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, musicians and more.
Each day, NAPCAN releases a new story that celebrates strength, hope and possibility, reminding audiences that positive youth stories aren’t rare; they’re just rarely told.
Raising the standard
To help journalists do better, NAPCAN has also developed the Fair Youth Coverage Media Guide, launched in Parliament in 2024. Created in collaboration with young people and media experts in the Northern Territory, the guide offers practical tools and ethical frameworks for reporting on children and young people with accuracy, empathy and respect.
This guide is more than a set of recommendations; it’s a roadmap for rebuilding trust between young people and the media.
Celebrating fair reporting
To encourage long-term change, the Youth Speak Out Council is also calling for the establishment of a National Journalism Award to recognise reporters who go beyond stereotypes, those who tell youth stories with context, authenticity and heart.
NAPCAN hopes this award will not only reward good journalism but also inspire a shift in how media organisations approach youth coverage altogether.
Get involved
Fair Youth Coverage is more than a campaign; it’s a conversation. You can join in by visiting napcan.org.au/fyc-fair-youth-coverage or following @FairYouthCoverage on Instagram to meet the young people changing the narrative, one story at a time.
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