Can we get past our token “young people” stories?

One would think that with young people flocking from their medium, newspapers and other mainstream media outlets would at least take a second to look at how they cover their hemorrhaging demographic. But instead, we see the same recycled stories with no real depth. Allow me to save them the trouble of thinking of “new” story ideas by presenting every story ever written about young people:

1. LOL! they use text speak in paperz! Imagine the horror! Slang and abbreviations are creeping their way into more “formal” ways of writing. While I would agree that this is happening, do we really need to hear about it all the freakin’ time? Or if we are going to hear about it, can we get past the traditional format:

Step 1: Mention how this generation is “different”
Step 2: Quote some teacher/boss/position of authority giving an anecdote: “I couldn’t believe it, they actually wrote LOL”
Step 3: Mention something about cell phones, and instant messaging
Step 4: Write “Generation Y” for the 8th time
Step 5: Drink some prune juice and take a nap

2. Aw, look at the cute kids, they are voting now. With global warming activism increasing, as well as the phenomena of political campaigns like Barack Obama’s, younger people are getting more credit than ever for getting involved.

3. We worship at the alter of Jon Stewart. Most people I know that watch the Daily Show are well informed before they begin watching. Also there is something to be said for the way Stewart and company cut through a lot of the fluff of broadcast news. I wanted to applaud when he looked John McCain in the eye and called him out for pandering (at about 5:40).

4. We are a bunch of pampered babies. This is especially a favorite of business magazines. Apparently my generation doesn’t see work as the end-all, and likes to wear flip flops. To live up to the stereotype for a moment, I don’t think its fair to toss a generation problems like global warming, debt, lack of pensions, and social security and then call them spoiled.

Which leads me to why I don’t get my news from traditional outlets in first place. I’m constantly disgusted by some of the stories I see and read. Stories like “8 reasons why this is the dumbest generation“, or constant coverage of stories like the Jeremiah Wright speech. It seems that neary every interview on any cable news network is two journalists talking to each other. Or, even worse, fake pundits. As a good man once said, maybe its the journalism that has gotten media in trouble up to this point.