From the Frontline - The media revolution needs youth workers

Over the past few years, we have seen schemes such as First Light and Mediabox set up to respond to young people's enthusiasm for creative media, recognising that skills are still important if the full creative and social benefit is to be wrested from the technology.

All over the country, independent media organisations have been working alongside youth workers to help young people express themselves and learn more about producing media content. This has led to the creation of thousands of videos, websites, podcasts and magazines.

What we are beginning to see is the evolution of a generation of hybrid youth media workers, yet they are poorly recognised by both the youth work and the media industry sectors. This is hardly surprising, given that there are so few formal training and accreditation routes to underpin these unique and increasingly sought-after combinations of skills.

For some years, The Rural Media Company has offered an apprenticeship scheme that enables media graduates in disciplines such as film, TV, journalism, photography and design to work in youth work settings and, through distance-learning programmes offered by YMCA George Williams College, have the opportunity to study qualifications in informal education and community learning. The results have been remarkable for both the apprentices and the host agencies.

Recently, while lecturing on a film and TV undergraduate course, I was approached by a group of students who said they had not realised when choosing their degree that it was possible to make films and work with young people. How many colleges and universities offer both youth work courses and media courses at diploma, degree and post-graduate level, often on the same campus, and yet never cross over?

Rather than rely on the ad hoc development of workers able to support in equal measure young people's personal, social and creative needs, is it not time for providers from both youth work and media sectors to develop accredited training, equipping workers with the skills and competencies to respond to this revolution? Funding bodies could also play a part, encouraging more explicit, training-led partnerships between media organisations and youth service providers.