What is the mission of your organization?
To be a resource for media teachers, to highlight media student works, to be a fun introduction to media studies for students and other interested parties.

What age, class, racial, religious, and ethnic groups do your organization work with?
Mostly high school students, years 7 - 12 (approx 12-17 year olds).

What are the main facilities, resources and services you make available to young people interested in working in media?
Mainly the internet site offers some space to display their work. As a teacher it depends on the school's facilities, but I'm not teaching presently.

How would children and young people make contact with your organization?
Email.

What made you originally want to start working with young people?
Originally I just wanted to get my hands on some cameras and sound equipment and learn how to make movies. But the course I did was a B/ed, and so the teaching kind of took over, and I found I didn't mind it. Could say I just fell into it, but I find working with young people, teaching them about media, is actually fun, and I like being able to open their eyes to the media.

How are young people using new technologies to help them gain access to public forums and be more effective media makers?
Well, the internet is a big thing with them. It's amazing how quickly they learn to exploit it. I think a good media course includes extensive use of powerful computers and all the new film-making and audio software that's available.

What do you see as the obstacles young producers of media face in gaining access to television, film, video, and print?
The main problem is that they're all owned and run by older people who are probably a bit scared of letting young producers in. Professional standards need to be maintained, so age and experience are preferred (even though young producers may have professional standards). Also young producers may not be socialised into the culture of commercial media - their voices may be radical - and so they are overlooked. This is one big reason why they gain more access to independent media, which are more open to new or different views. Ultimately, young producers of media are not really taken seriously. If they get any access to mainstream media, it's usually in a setting that is highly controlled by 'the professionals' and is highly homogenized. I'm thinking particularly of a show here in Australia called 'Behind the News', which purports to present news stories in a way that kids can understand.

What's taking place today that is or will soon make access easier or harder for a greater number of young people?
If it can avoid being further controlled by governments and companies, I'd say the internet still has potential. Cheaper and simpler recording technology like cd and dvd burners, mp3s, video software, etc, might be able to lessen the reliance on expensive studios and equipment. Films, videos and audio can all be made cheaply and professionally today. The main problem is distribution channels. Again, the internet is one way to go.

Do you believe there is bias in the dominant media toward young people and their interests and issues? What is it?
Newspapers and television news media have a tendency to put a negative spin on youth activities, portraying them as criminals, louts, confused, naïve, etc. But there are many positive stereotypes of young people in film and TV dramas. There are also many unrealistic, overly-glamorised stereotypes too - particularly in relation to advertising. Young people are a prized market for advertisers, so there's a lot of attention paid to them, in ads and programs.

How do you think the Internet and other technologies are influencing young media makers?
See above.

What are your organizations success stories working with young media producers?
Whenever a student produces a great photo, or shows she understands some concept about the media, I'm happy. I count it a success when they produce something that I feel is good enough to go up on the Gallery of my site.

What will be the most serious challenges facing young media journalists in the future?
Adapting to new technologies, maintaining real journalistic objectivity.

What do you think can be done to make young people more media literate?
A higher profile and bigger budgets for Media Studies in schools. More media expose shows like 'Media Watch' and 'Frontline'. More media literate adults!

— Russell Forden, Feedback Media Review
 

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