Facilitator and journalist, Ifasina Efunyemi, asked the youths to share what they felt were the positive and negative aspects of the media. She asked them to talk about the bad and then highlight the good.

Overwhelmingly, the young people felt that the media portrays them negatively, and this bias, said one young person, comes when the media would prefer to cover a murder in Orange Walk rather than a positive program for youths held in Belize City.

Another participant said that sometimes, editors violate the rights of minors by revealing their identities in cases such as rape, where the child?s identity should be kept secret.

Others felt that people in the media are too lazy, and do not do enough research and follow-up.

The media also tends to focus on what is happening around Belize City, said one participant from Corozal.

Another said that the media was more concerned about what the Government does than how it affects young people. The good things that young people do, said one youth, should come first, rather than at the bottom of the newscast.

The youths, overall, recognize the powerful impact that the media has in their lives.

Suzette Zayden of Fer de Lance Productions was careful to point out that what people often see as ?the media? extends far beyond the scope they perceive. She explained that the term ?media,? while often used in a limited sense to refer to the newspaper, radio station and television news, also encompasses television programs that even young people can take the initiative to put together. She encouraged them to see the industry as a place where they can establish a professional career outside of the traditional media roles in Belize that we perceive.

On the upside, the young people praised the media for being a key source of information for them. Some also lauded KREM FM and KREM TV for connecting young Belizeans with their roots by airing programs which are Belizean, or tell of things historically important to Belizeans.

Another commended TV-3 of Orange Walk for highlighting the work of Belizean youths and for ?opening people?s eyes.?

One young man was particularly disturbed that when he was accused of a crime, the media did not get his side of the story. He said that while he was behind bars, he tried to get information out to the media, but prison officials thwarted his efforts. He claims he was wrongly accused of a crime.

The youths also recognized the sacrifice that media people make in covering natural disasters, such as hurricanes, being away from their loved ones when they, too, need them to perform a nationally important duty.

Others were very grateful for the newspaper medium that teaches youths and encourages their interest in reading, but were very displeased with the comic cartoons that some newspapers print. The media could use that space for something constructive and promote critical thinking, the youth said.

The media personnel had a chance to respond to the criticism of the participants and spoke of the framework within which they operate.

They noted that young people, too, should be more proactive in getting their issues to the forefront and realize that the media includes many other tools that could be used to get to their target medium?e-mails, faxes, etc. could be used effectively as a means to an end.

After the discussion forum, the participants viewed video presentations from Greg Godfrey and Denvor Fairweather of 13 Productions on ?one minute for my rights? videos. These are very concise, exactly one-minute messages that drive home a firm message about the rights of young people.

Godfrey said that he would produce a one-minute video at the end of the training on the right of young people to participation.

The workshop is funded by UNICEF, in collaboration with a wide range of entities such as the NCFC, Youth for the Future, the National Sports Council, the Garifuna Youth Arm, YMCA, YWCA, the Institute of Creative Arts and the Ministry of Health.