Blog: Media

What Role Do the Media Play in Social Justice?

By National Counci..., September 16 2013

We’ve all had the experience of being captivated by a sensational story of a harrowing crime. Television shows, movies, articles, and books about these statistically rare events grab our attention and grip us in fear. They feed the idea that catching only the few very bad people and locking them up for life is the bulk of what the justice system does.
Reality is far more complex, of course. From mass incarceration for nonviolent crimes to overrepresentation of black people in the justice system, there are thousands of stories that deserve to be told, not just because they are real people’s experiences but because they raise questions that we as a society need to face.
It is the media’ s role and responsibility to tell the stories we as citizens need to hear. When stories are compelling and accurate, they move us to think more deeply, connect with those we might have not felt connected to, and act to change our world.
That’s why each year, through our Media for a Just Society Awards, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency recognizes those individuals in the media whose work furthers public understanding of criminal justice, juvenile justice, child welfare, and adult protection issues. The winners of the 2013 MJS Awards competed against over 100 other nominees in the categories of film, book, magazine, newspaper, radio, TV/video, and web. This month, NCCD is featuring many MJS winners in a special blog series. Through these posts, we will learn about the impetus for their work, the challenges of its creation, and what these issues mean to them.

Topics: Juvenile Justice Reform, Media, No bio box

Moving from Them to Us - Challenges in Reframing Violence Among Youth

By Benjamin Chambers, January 05 2010

juvenile-justice-reform-youth-violence-prevention_cover-of-reportIt's safe to assume that we'd all like to see youth violence reduced if not eliminated. And there's plenty of work going on in this area.
But there are some major obstacles to successfully addressing youth violence in a systemic, effective way, argue Lori Dorfman, DrPH, and Lawrence Wallack, DrPH, authors of a fascinating paper called, "Moving from Them to Us - Challenges in Reframing Violence Among Youth." [Dr. Wallack is a colleague of Dr. Laura Nissen, the national director of Reclaiming Futures.]
One of the most important obstacles: violence is almost always framed -- especially in the media -- as the responsibility of an individual. And while it's true that individual choice is part of the explanation, it's not the whole explanation. By talking about violence only in terms of individuals, we subtly suggest that there's nothing that can be done to prevent it. That makes it difficult for anti-violence advocates, who know that violence can be reduced and prevented by a broad-based focus on the environmental factors that contribute to it.

Topics: Community Engagement, Juvenile Justice Reform, Media, No bio box

Roundup: Juvenile Drug Court Grants from SAMHSA; Juvenille Justice Reform Survey; Using the Media to Support Reform; and More

By Benjamin Chambers, December 11 2009

juvenile-justice-reform-old-TVJuvenile Justice System News - An Important Survey, plus Webinars and One Grant Opportunity

  • Please take or pass on this quick online survey for kids who used to be in the juvenile justice system, family members of kids in the system, and people of color new to the field of juvenile justice reform. The National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) compiled the survey to help shape its first Juvenile Justice Leadership Development Institute, which it plans to hold in July 2010. The mission of the Institute is to create a "more effective juvenile justice reform movement by developing a strong base of well prepared and well trained advocates who reflect the communities most affected by juvenile justice system practices and policies, with a particular focus on cultivating and supporting leaders of color, youth and family members." Hurry, though, the deadline to complete it is Monday, December 14th!

Topics: Juvenile Justice Reform, Juvenile Treatment Drug Court, Media, No bio box, Public Policy

Hope, Help & Healing: Using Media to Connect People with Help for Addiction - Part 2 of 2

By Steve Pasierb, July 13 2009

[Steve Pasierb is President and CEO of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. This is Part 2 of a 2-part post; find Part 1 of Using Media to Connect People with Help for Addiction here. -Ed.]

 
Lesson 6: A comprehensive intervention Web site is an essential tool.
Treatment messages must include a "call to action" to a phone line and, importantly, a web resource to learn more about options for help. It was found that a dedicated Web site was an essential resource for the public on addiction issues, and that media can effectively promote this resource, generating strong traffic and lengthening visit time.

Topics: Community Engagement, Media, No bio box

Hope, Help & Healing: Using Media to Connect People with Help for Addiction - Part 1 of 2

By Steve Pasierb, July 09 2009

[Steve Pasierb is President and CEO of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. This is Part 1 of a 2-part post. -Ed.]
A research-based communications exploratory by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) produced a set of 10 “lessons learned” that can be applicable to all working to communicate with the public on addiction treatment. It also became the foundation of the Partnership’s ongoing collaboration with the Treatment Research Institute (TRI), which has produced a range of innovative, useful new intervention tools like Time To Act.
 
Lesson 1: Public attitudes are indeed barriers to help-seeking.
Our work with RWJF identified three public attitudes that must be counteracted:

Topics: Community Engagement, Media, No bio box

Who's Responsible for Ending Youth Violence? An Op-Ed from a Reclaiming Futures Site

By Benjamin Chambers, May 12 2009

 Karen Carpenter, the Community Fellow for our site in Rowan County, North Carolina, let me know that her op-ed on who's responsible for ending youth violence appeared in yesterday's Salisbury Post.
A sad occasion -- the shooting death of a teen in Salisbury -- but an eloquent call for mentors for teens who need them. Good work, Karen!

Topics: Community Engagement, Juvenile Justice Reform, Media, No bio box, Positive Youth Development

Reclaiming Futures on Comcast Newsmakers

By Benjamin Chambers, January 22 2009

  • Want a quick orientation to Reclaiming Futures?
  • Work for a Reclaiming Futures initiative, and wonder how to do an "elevator speech" about it? 

Check out Dr. Laura Nissen, National Director of Reclaiming Futures, in this brief, 4-minute interview on Comcast Newsmakers. It aired in a break on Comcast's CNN Headline News in late December.

Topics: Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, Juvenile Justice Reform, Media, News, No bio box, Reclaiming Futures

Round-up: State Budget Gaps, Research on Alcohol and Kids, Vulnerable Populations in Juvenile Justice

By Benjamin Chambers, January 02 2009

Even though it was a holiday week, I ran across a number of interesting stories and resources.

Topics: Media, No bio box, Public Policy, Reclaiming Futures, Research Updates, Resources

Mentors for Youth in the Justice System - Seattle's 4C Coalition

By Benjamin Chambers, December 30 2008

4C Coalition logoHazel Cameron -- a Reclaiming Futures Community Fellow -- knows a thing or two about recruiting mentors for youth involved in the justice system.
Her 4C Coalition has partnered with the Reclaiming Futures initiative in Seattle for years now, successfully pairing youth with caring adults.
The Coalition just made a splash in the Seattle Times, too. (You can also find a PDF of the story here.) Congratulations to Hazel and all her colleagues!
UPDATE: The 4C Coalition recently joined the National CARES Mentoring Movement, which states that it has "mounted the largest mentor recruitment effort in the history of this nation aimed at securing the lives of our young black boys and girls." CARES has mentor-recruitment circles in 53 communities across the country, including several other Reclaiming Futures sites: Anchorage, Chicago, Dayton, and Greensboro (Guilford County). Is your community part of the movement?

Topics: Media, No bio box, Positive Youth Development, Reclaiming Futures, Youth Engagement

Brief News: Teens and Prescription Drugs; Bristol County Gets Noticed; "Two Reforms" Story Stirs Controversy

By Benjamin Chambers, December 02 2008

A few quick links that crossed our desk today:

  • Many of you probably saw this on Join Together, but it's worth repeating: according to a new national survey, 19% of teens surveyed say that it's easier for them to buy prescription drugs than beer, cigarettes, or marijuana. More info on the survey from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland here.

Topics: Juvenile Justice Reform, Media, No bio box, Research Updates

St. Clair County Gets the Word Out

By Benjamin Chambers, November 17 2008

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about why it was important for communities engaged in juvenile justice reform to keep the public informed about what they were doing. I listed several Reclaiming Futures sites that had done a good job announcing their work.

Topics: Media, No bio box

Reclaiming Futures in Pictures

By Benjamin Chambers, November 06 2008

King County Youth Detention Facility In 2004, renowned photographer Susie Fitzhugh went to three Reclaiming Futures communities -- Seattle, Santa Cruz, and the Southeastern Mountains of Kentucky -- to document how the initiative was changing lives. Be sure to check out this sobering and inspiring peek at communities in the midst of reform. 
Anyone in other Reclaiming Futures communities have photos they want to share? 
 
 

Topics: Media, No bio box