Ella Sage on youth voices - Where are they?

Create Happy Co-editor Ella Sage. Source: Supplied by Ella Sage/Create Happy Media. 

In a media landscape dominated by perspective often failing to represent young people, where are their voices, and how are their stories being told?  

With an ever-decreasing number of journalists in Aotearoa, it begs the question of who is sharing young people’s stories. Enter Create Happy Media, the largest youth-operated media outlet in New Zealand, fed up with a lack of representation.  

The initiative began with a story about the viral video from the Rewa All Stars Hip Hop crew being dubbed an 'Auckland' success, however later that week, the media published other stories of fights breaking out in the same area, quickly to be labelled as ‘South Auckland’. 

The label and association of South Auckland with the negative context, led to youth at Manurewa High School to feel “robbed of their story”, as well as misrepresented. Feelings of frustration and injustice fueled their determination to reclaim their narrative and helped birth Create Happy Media.  

This is where Ella Sage comes in. From Hokitika, Sage is the co-editor of Create Happy while also being a first-year student at UC in media and communications.  

A born writer, Sage has been creating stories and illustrations since she was young, making tiny books and entering writing competitions throughout her childhood. She got involved with Create Happy by messaging them on Instagram after seeing a mate get involved.  

Sage told Canta her motivation behind Create Happy is to share the voices, and telling the stories of others, believing strongly in the power of young people to tackle complex issues, challenging the notion that age should be a barrier to writing about complex topics.  

"Just because people are younger doesn't mean they can't write tricky stories," she said, echoing Create Happy's kaupapa to train a new generation of journalists who unite rather than divide through their words. 

Sage urges young people to remember "age is your superpower."  

This ethos is at the core of Create Happy, a publication highlighting and celebrating youth voices by giving them a platform. 

Create Happy Media Team. Source: Supplied by Ella Sage/Create Happy Media. 

Create Happy's most recent issue explores content ranging from personal perspectives of change, Girl Guide units, the pros and cons of BookTok, and student voices on the Government's phone ban.  

Special moments Sage has had with the magazine include connecting with people like Adrianna Bird, an ocean activist who encourages activism in an ‘imperfect way,’ and creative entrepreneur Kii Small at a TED Talk.  

Outlets like Create Happy, which encourage youth-centric narratives in media prompt us to consider, how ageist are we and how ageist is our media?  

The media, especially in news, is often consumed by perspectives of professionals and experts, with there being frequent limits to celebrating youth voices.  

For example, The New Zealand Herald has a section of its website labelled 'Children.' Under the most recent stories, there were no celebrations of youth stories, and again, the most common theme was crime. 24 stories down was the first story of something remotely celebratory, and all it was labelled as "100 junior rugby players set for Waikato festival." 

Create Happy wants to change this. They're accessible across social media and are gearing up to launch their blog to make their content more accessible. As students surrounded by adults, taught by adults, and employed by adults, there is space for those voices to be at the forefront.  

The magazine is available through its website and provides voices in youth spaces beyond media. It's also always eager for involvement from anyone aged 10-24—they want to share your voice! Create Happy Media is a platform that welcomes and encourages everyone to participate.