Local and regional newspapers in the North East are being put under the spotlight, with a research project looking at their coverage of young people.

It is being carried out by the North East Regional Youth Work Unit, which has been commissioned by the region’s Government office.

It follows feedback that suggests young people think they are portrayed in a negative way by the media.

The unit will analyse the content of ten newspapers from the region published during four weeks in March.

The number of stories published in that time involving young people will be collated, and the types of stories categorised.

The titles which will be examined are The Northern Echo, Evening Chronicle, The Journal, Sunday Sun, Sunderland Echo, Hexham Courant, the Evening Gazette, Newcastle Herald & Post, Northumberland Herald & Post and Middlesbrough Herald & Post.

Melissa Jordan, project support office for the Youth Work Unit, said: “We are looking at a selection of newspapers from across the North East region – dailies, weeklies, paid-for and free – to get a representative coverage.

“The perception young people have is that most of the coverage about them is negative.”

The research follows the ‘Our North East Event’, which was held by the Government Office for the North East in collaboration with the Regional Youth Work Unit last August.

It brought young people and decision makers together to discuss issues and questions raised by children and young people.

Once the research has been concluded it is thought that a campaign will be launched in a bid to get more positive stories about young people covered by the media.

Melissa said: “A lot of young people don’t know how to get stories out there.

“There are lots of groups involved with positive projects so we will be trying to help them get their message out. The media aren’t mind readers.”