Riots Programme Suggests Orthodox Views Are Way Off the Mark

London, United Kingdom, September 22, 2012 --(PR.com)-- WORLDbytes, the online citizen TV station, has today launched Don’t Shout at the Telly: Re-thinking the Riots. On the programme young Londoners engage in a fascinating ‘on the sofa’ discussion on the causes and ramifications of the riots. Writer and North London teacher Neil Davenport is in the hot seat and shares his insights on the events of August last year and lessons we should have learnt.

A refreshing array of questions get aired from the impact of Mark Duggan’s death to diminished parental authority to the patronising nature of youth provision. Davenport is compelling in his argument that a culture of entitlement has bred a narcissistic, anti-social outlook among young people. This has been compounded he explains, by a fatalistic attitude towards ethnic minorities within education, hence the young age of those taking part and the focus on London. The riots, he tells us, were nothing like riots of the past as they were more about getting free stuff than freedom. While Davenport maintains that the riots are unlikely to recur in the same form, he reminds us that an underlying culture of menace remains. Finding new ways to ‘socialise’ young people he explains, is key and suggests getting back into pubs would be more effective than the ever greater regulation on offer. When questioned on the role of the police and “why they were even there” as one participant put it. Davenport responded:

“Policemen and the police force are also imbued with a therapeutic culture. The number of police officers that claim stress and being traumatised through the course of their job, that’s increased massively...they are unsure of how society would react to them - are they being racist? Are they being too brutal?” There is also, he points out “a plain old ‘they’ve lost their bottle’...”

Director Ceri Dingle said today: “Working with a group of young Londoners to produce a filmed frank discussion with a teacher unafraid of being judgmental was an eye opener. Neil’s explanation of the riots as an expression of a forceful sense of entitlement rings true. He was quite prepared to disagree with participants, none of whom were offended, and that makes a change too. Maybe that is something we need more of.”

The programme Don’t Shout at the Telly: Re-thinking the Riots is available to watch on WORLDbytes at:

http://www.worldbytes.org/dont-shout-at-the-telly-the-anniversary-of-the-riots/

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For more information and interviews contact:
Ceri Dingle or Viv Regan at: info@worldbytes.org Tel: +44 (0)20 8985 5435

Notes to editors:
WORLDbytes is a unique online Citizen TV channel featuring reports and programmes created by young volunteers learning to shoot 'on the job'. Its programmes aim to get behind the headlines and promote a people-first perspective on a wide-range of issues. The channel's credo is "don't shout at the telly, change the message on it".

WORLDbytes is run by the education charity WORLDwrite, registered charity number 1060869. The charity champions quality citizen reporting and provides free film training to make this possible.

For more information, please visit: www.worldwrite.org.uk & www.worldbytes.org