Read up fed up research findings

From WikiREADia

Teenage tastes reveal the need for a reappraisal of traditional attitudes to reading

A report released on 27.03.08 by the National Year of Reading shows a staggering 45% of teenagers have been told off by an adult for enjoying something that is not deemed to be ‘proper reading’. It is these narrow definitions of what constitutes reading that is unwittingly turning off the next generation of avid readers.

The report, entitled Read Up, Fed Up is the conclusion to a month-long research project capturing exactly what titles are getting 11-14 year olds passionate about reading – both what they love and loathe.

The report shows

• There is an explosion of digital reading, with four out of ten top teen reads being online

• Teens also love reading film scripts and song lyrics

• Traditional literature is by no means lost, with Anne Frank’s Diary ranking just one place below Harry Potter nearly 60 years after it was written.

• A massive 80% of teens have actually written their own story, film, play or song

Honor Fletcher-Wilson, Director of the National Year of Reading said:

“The explosion of digital media, and how we use it, means that today’s young people are exposed to a wider variety of reading material than any previous generation. Despite this, it seems adults are not yet embracing this shift and are not encouraging teens to take advantage of this new landscape.

“The National Year of Reading is a celebration of reading in all its forms and I think the results from this report show teenagers are doing exactly that. Teens are eager to speak out about everything they read, be it song lyrics, magazines, film scripts or even their own written works – challenging traditional definitions of reading as being all about books. We must understand that all reading is valid, that it all counts and it must all be appreciated.”

With 62% of teens saying that they have liked reading something so much they have passed it on to a friend or family member, Ed Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, encourages adults to get teens sharing their opinions on an ongoing basis:

“This report was all about finding out what teenagers love and hate to read by engaging teenagers themselves, inviting them to have their say on a national platform. Through understanding what your child is reading, you will understand more about them as a person, and it is for this reason that I am urging conversations about reading with teens to start in households across the country.”

Findings

Some of the main findings to come out of the research also show that:

• Teens are reaching a ‘tolerance tipping point’ in their consumption of celebrity magazines. While titles such as Heat and Bliss come out at the top, there is also a growing tension amongst young people, who rank “reading about skinny celebrities in magazines” as their fourth least loved read

• Harry Potter still features in the top 10, it also appears at number 8 least loved read

• Boys are particularly practical in their approach, with 31% saying that they love reading because it helps them get better at their hobbies (e.g. sports, films or music) with girls being more pragmatic - 39% saying they loved reading because it is an escape and quiet time they can enjoy on their own.