The Making of Citizens: Young People, News and Politics

Why are young people so alienated from the world of politics? What role should the news media play, both in informing young people about the world, and in encouraging their political participation? InThe Making of Citizens, David Buckingham explores these questions through an analysis of television news programs and interviews with young adults. He traces the dynamic complexities of young persons' interpretations of news and, and their judgements about the ways in which key social and political issues are represented. Rather than bemoaning what he sees as young people's ignorance, he argues that we need to rethink what counts as political understanding in contemporary societies, and suggests that we need more engaging forms of factual reporting to effectively connect with young people's changing perceptions of themselves as citizens. With material drawn from coverage of a variety of political arenas, from the Million Man March to the environment, Buckingham daringly enters the debate aboutcitizenship and the responsibility for the political education of our youth.

David Buckingham is Professor of Education at the Institute of Education, University of London.