Unfortunately, the public’s thirst for the gruesome and shocking will likely continue to drive most mainstream media outlets to disproportionately cover stories involving youth engaged in serious crime. However, panelists did reflect a growing awareness within the media of the damaging impact this trend has had on minority communities and this country as a whole, and demonstrated a genuine concern for addressing the issue.

Much of the panel discussion centered around the 1997 Annual Report of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, False Images? The News Media and Juvenile Crime (available from the Coalition by calling 202-467-0864). The Coalition for Juvenile Justice is the federal advisory board which represents state juvenile justice advisory groups in each state and is charged with the responsibility to provide annual recommendations to

• that the media cover the activities of young people in a more balanced and responsible fashion, addressing both the positive and negative things youth do, and without distorting he

a more comprehensive fashion, covering ordinary juvenile and family court proceedings, as well as the more sensational cases, and addressing the operation of the system and its need for resources, alternatives, and volunteers, as well as the occasional focus on individual proceedings;

• that the media cover all crime, including juvenile delinquency, in a more balanced and in-depth fashion, looking at property offenses, as well as violent crime, and putting offenses and incidents in context. Such contextual reporting should include the presence of substance abuse, the history of family violence, and the sources of weapons used in crime; and

• that the media concentrate more on "civic or public journalism," examining in a more comprehensive way the systemic and policy implications of issues involving children, youth and families, and exploring the possible solutions to the problems facing young people and their families. In addition to responding to the recommendations of the report, several of the panelists also gave encouragement to participants that they can make a difference in what the media covers and how it is covered. Participants were urged to contact their local media outlets and provide constant feedback on the types of stories they would like to see covered. Panelists assured those in attendance that just as public opinion drives programming through ratings, public opinion has the power to change how the media portrays minority youth and crime.

Finally, the panelists reflected agreement on the need to increase the numbers of minorities working in all types of media, at all levels.