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Behind the Headlines:
Media Representation of Children & Young People in Northern Ireland
Great Hall, Queen’s University Belfast
Friday, April 24, 2015
Speaker Profiles
Deborah Watters
Assistant Director, Northern Ireland Alternatives
@alternatives_rj
Deborah has been involved in the area of justice work, peace building, reconciliation and youth work for
the past 25 years. She studied at the University of Ulster and has worked as a restorative justice
practitioner for 22 years, including the management of the first restorative justice programme in the USA
from 1993-1997. Deborah has been involved with the development of restorative justice initiatives in
Northern Ireland since 1997 and played a key role in transferring her learnings from the USA into the
Northern Ireland context. She is currently the Assistant Director of Northern Ireland Alternatives, a
community-based restorative justice programme operating at a grassroots level in North/West Belfast,
East Belfast, South Belfast and Bangor which works closely with young people and adults involved in
crime, anti-social behaviour and interface violence. Deborah is actively involved in training in restorative
practices, mediation and youth work both within local communities, schools, universities and statutory
agencies and has provided training, consultancy and presentations/lectures at a local, regional and
international level. She is currently a Board Member of Include Youth, the Institute of Criminology and
Criminal Justice at QUB and is an Independent Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Presentation of ESRC Project and Research Findings by the Childhood,
Transition and Social Justice Initiative at Queen’s University Belfast
Professor Phil Scraton PhD
Professor of Criminology, Director of the Childhood, Transition and Social Justice
Initiative, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules on children’s rights and social justice, Phil’s most
recent books include: ‘Childhood’ in ‘Crisis’? (Routledge); Hillsborough: The Truth (Mainstream); Beyond
September 11: An anthology of dissent (Pluto); Power, Conflict and Criminalisation (Routledge); The
Violence of Incarceration (Routledge); The Incarceration of Women (Palgrave Macmillan). He edited a
recent special issue of Current Issues in Criminal Justice on the criminalisation and punishment of children
and young people. His co-authored research reports include: Childhood in Transition: Experiencing
Marginalisation and Conflict in Northern Ireland (Save the Children/ Prince’s Trust); The Hurt Inside: The
Imprisonment of Women and Girls in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission);
Children’s Rights in Northern Ireland (NICCY); Children of Imprisoned Parents (Eurochips). With Dr
Siobhán McAlister he is joint Principal Investigator for the ESRC-funded knowledge-exchange project on
the impact of negative media images of children and young people in the North of Ireland. A member of
the Hillsborough Independent Panel (2010-2012) he was primary researcher and author of the groundbreaking Hillsborough: The Report of the Independent Panel (2012) receiving the QUB inaugural award for
research impact and runner-up in the THES UK Research Project of the Year. Involved with communitybased initiatives, until recently he chaired the Board of Include Youth.
Dr Siobhán McAlister
Lecturer in Criminology, School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen’s
University Belfast
@siobhanmc74
Siobhán has been involved in research with children and young people for over 15 years, including
projects focusing on: young people and social exclusion; the transitions of deaf young people; young
people’s transitions from custody; the impacts and legacies of the Conflict on children and young people;
the experiences of young women in ‘post-conflict’ Northern Ireland. Along with Prof. Phil Scraton and Dr.
Faith Gordon, she is currently a co-investigator on the ESRC-funded knowledge-exchange project
identifying and challenging the negative media representation of children and young people in Northern
Ireland. Siobhán teaches across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Youth and
Social Justice, Crime and the Media and Qualitative Research in Childhood and Youth. She is a co-director
of the MSc in Youth Justice and a member of the Childhood, Transition and Social Justice Initiative.
Dr Faith Gordon
Research Fellow, Childhood, Transition and Social Justice Initiative, School of Law,
Queen’s University Belfast
@FaithCTSJI
Faith’s undergraduate research project (2006), Children’s Rights in a Media Culture, involved media
content analysis and qualitative interviews with children’s sector research and policy officers. The project
was awarded the Northern Ireland Law Society Prize. Faith was awarded her PhD in December 2012.
Her thesis was entitled: A Critical Analysis of Print Media Representation of Children and Young People
during Transition from Conflict in Northern Ireland. In providing an evidence-base, the empirical
research included content analysis of print media collected over six months and a case study of what was
represented as youth involvement in ‘sectarian’ rioting. This study included extensive interviews with
editors and journalists, politicians and policy makers, and a spokesperson for the Police Service of
Northern Ireland (PSNI). The study prioritised the ‘view from below’ by including the experiences of
children, young people and their advocates. Building on Faith’s previous research (2006; 2008; 2012)
and expertise, she is currently Research Fellow and the primary researcher on an ESRC funded
Knowledge Exchange project entitled: Identifying and challenging the negative media representation of
children and young people in Northern Ireland. Include Youth and the Childhood, Transition and Social
Justice Initiative are lead partners on the project and their established working relationship is committed
to knowledge and skills transfer between academic researchers and community-based practitioners.
Faith was appointed to the board of Trustees for Headliners in 2015.
“What a Load of Stereotyping”
Aisling McGeown and young people from Greater Shankill Alternatives
Journalist Project worker, Headliners Belfast
@headlinersbt
Aisling’s role is to assist young people in researching and producing issue based stories for publication
and broadcast whether it be print, film, podcasting or photography. Her role is to encourage young
people to create an honest, creative and positive media output, which represents them and to find a
platform for those outputs to be seen and heard. Based in the Headliners Belfast office Aisling runs a
weekly free membership for young people between the ages of 8 and 19. Headliners also offers an
outreach project funded by Big Lottery where young people take part in various personal development
activities and create a media output of their choosing. One of the outreach projects worked alongside
young people from Greater Shankill Alternatives to explore stereotypes young people face.
Letting the Listeners know: “We Want to Work”
Maureen Brannigan, Taylor Murtagh & Matthew Mackenzie
START Programme, Youth Initiatives
@STARTprogramme / @YINI_91
The START Programme supported young people aged 16-24 with education, employment or training
across three community sites. It was a partnership programme consisting of Challenge for Youth,
Northern Ireland Alternatives, Lisburn YMCA and Youth Initiatives, coordinated by Include Youth.
Maureen, Matthew and Taylor participated in the 28 week programme at the Youth Initiatives site in
Poleglass and were invited four times during a six month period onto BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra
show to tell their story and update on their progress. Maureen is studying youth work through the
Apprenticeship Peace Programme and plans to start university in September. Taylor is working full-time
in a call centre and Matthew is training to become a mechanic through Workforce.
“Journalistic Citizenship/ Youth Journalism”
Micky Murray
Public Achievement
@civicyw / @WIMPS / @micky_murray
Micky has been involved with Public Achievement from 2012 as a volunteer coach with the Central
Belfast WIMPS Crew; he also became a Board Member for the organisation in 2013. Micky has been
working with his WIMPS Crew on a campaign, introducing a better standard of mental health awareness
training into the education system in Northern Ireland. Micky is also Chair of the Alliance Party of
Northern Ireland’s LGBT committee and works as a project officer in Stella Maris.
Robert Murtagh
Public Achievement
@civicyw / @WIMPS / @robertmurtagh1
Robert is a student at Queens University studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Robert joined
WIMPS West Belfast in 2011 interviewing Education Minister John O’Dowd, meeting Prime Minister
David Cameron and speaking at a UNESCO conference in Paris about education. Robert is now a
volunteer and board member for Public Achievement and is at the forefront of the Votes @16 and Rock the
Vote campaigns.
“Banged Up and Left to Fail?”
Natalie Atkinson
Presenter of BBC3 crime and punishment documentary
@Nat89atk
From the age of 13 Natalie was heavily involved within the care, youth justice and the criminal justice
system. After spending 13 periods in secure units and prison she decided to use her own lived experience
to help others in a similar situation. During the next few years Natalie went on to complete an Access to
Higher Education Diploma and in 2014 she graduated with a 1st class (hons) in BSc Policing, Investigation
and Criminology and was awarded NUS Endsleigh Student of the Year 2014. Over the past year Natalie
has taken part in a number of media pieces, including newspaper, television and radio. Natalie recently
presented a BBC Three documentary ‘Banged up & Left to Fail?’ focusing on the key areas that contribute
to the successful rehabilitation of young people and young adults following their release from prison
including; support, housing, education, training and employment and mental health. Natalie is passionate
about challenging the negative and stereotypical perceptions that exist relating to young people and uses
her own story to challenge these and hopefully inspire others. She currently works in the criminal
justice/homeless third-sector and is studying a Masters in Criminal Justice Policy at LSE, and hopes to
build a successful career empowering young people and challenging policies and practices.
Panel Discussion: The Way Forward
Adam Smyth
Editor Radio News/ News Online, BBC NI
@adamcsmyth
Adam is a former reporter for BBC Newsround; which has a great reputation for understanding the
children’s/youth audience and the sensitivities in covering issues affecting children and young people.
These days Adam is the editor responsible for the BBC News NI website and a range of radio current
affairs programmes. That means he supports teams in making judgements about how best to reflect the
full range of youth and children’s experience in Northern Ireland. Most decision making is
straightforward but more complicated decisions relating to youth justice, for example, are referred to
Adam for editorial advice and guidance.
Mike Nesbitt MLA
Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First
Minister
Sharon Whittaker
Communications Officer, Include Youth
@IncludeYouth / @WHITTonTWITT
Sharon is responsible for communications at Include Youth and ensures the organisation has a consistent
public profile through all relevant media channels. She also trains and supports staff and young people
involved with Include Youth, as well as those from voluntary and community sector organisations, to
engage with the media, effectively use social media and participate in public debates. Sharon is
particularly interested in negative representations of young people, in particular the role of the media in
this. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Northern Ireland regional committee
and the Do Something Brilliant: Northern Ireland – Advisory Group.
“Taking urgent measures to address the intolerance & inappropriate
characterization of children and young people”
Koulla Yiasouma
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
@nichildcom / @shriekinggreek
Koulla Yiasouma took up appointment as NI Commissioner for Children and Young People on the 2nd of
March 2015. She trained as a social worker and previously worked in probation and NI Women’s Aid and
was Director of Include Youth for 17 years. Koulla is a passionate advocate for the rights of all children
especially those with the most challenging behaviours and has previously represented these issues on a
number of strategic bodies. As Commissioner Koulla is responsible for the safeguarding and promoting
the rights of children and young people across NI and is required to formally advice government on the
implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Koulla has involved with a number of
voluntary and community based organisations. Until recently she was a Board member of the Patient and
Client Council, a school governor, a member of the NI Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership
and the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland.
‘In the Headlines’ booklet launch
Paddy Mooney
Director, Include Youth
@includeyouth / @redforlife19
Paddy has a vast experience in working with and for disadvantaged children, young people and
communities for many years. He first became involved in the voluntary and community sector in his role
as a community worker in the Upper Springfield area of Belfast, promoting the rights of the child and
developing services for children and young people. He then moved to one of Northern Ireland’s largest
youth training organisations in West Belfast before taking up post at NIACR0. Here Paddy supported
local people in disadvantaged communities to deliver high quality play and recreational services for
children and young people. Paddy later became crime prevention manager and helped develop NIACRO’s
community led community safety work. Paddy joined Include Youth as Give and Take Scheme manager in
2003, the Scheme supports vulnerable and disadvantaged 16 to 21 year olds gain skills and experiences
that will move them towards employment. In 2012 Paddy was appointed Deputy Director of Include
Youth, taking up post as Director earlier this year.