Be yourself - not Peter Andre or Jordan

Young people are often criticised for obsessions with mobile phones, social networking websites and the latest consumer electronics, while lacking literary skills.
So I was delighted to receive a carefully crafted and thoughtful email from Year 11 students at Crispin School in Street. They are doing a citizenship course, investigating stereotyping in the media.
“Our research shows us that young people are heavily influenced by the body image portrayed in the media,” they wrote.“This can lead to some dangerous issues like stress, self harming, eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia.
“The main focus of the investigation is body image and confidence in your own body.” Agreed.
They then asked for my views and our policies.
I think magazines are most culpable in making young people feel they must conform to certain types of body image which are impossible for many, but national newspapers and television also play a part in causing these problems.
Young people are also influenced by the celebrity culture evidenced by the enormous popularity of magazines like Hello and TV shows like I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Our local newspapers do not stereotype young people or promote any sort of body image. We interest younger readers by our coverage of their achievements, school news, youth sport and entertainment coverage.
Our policy is to seek positive news wherever possible, although we must also report local tragedies like road deaths.
The young should strive to be themselves, not imitate third rate celebrities like the dreadful Peter Andre or worse Jordan.
Philip Welch