"Newspapers across the UK are representing older people in stereotypical ways, usually as helpless victims, and failing to cover the wide range of activities in which the over-60s are involved".

So began a press release from Age Concern, launching its report 'Older Generations in Print' - the research based on a report which audited 4,000 articles about older people and ageing issues from over 1,000 national, regional and local newspapers.

"We welcome the fact the newspapers are interested in ageing issues. However, on the whole, they provide a distorted, impoverished picture of older people, often relying on cliches.

"Except for the odd bungee-jumping granny, and the elder statesmen, they are often seen as frail objects of pity," says Sarah Berger, manager of the UK Secretariat for the International Year of Older Persons.

Food for thought all round. I have my views about the report, and also about the coverage this newspaper gives to older people and ageing issues. It has certainly led to a reflection on how we portray older people.

I'm not sitting on the fence and will respond in the fullness of time.

What I would really like to know is what you think about the report's claims and also our coverage of the issues. Please drop me a line with your thoughts and any ideas.

As an aside, I was fascinated on a recent holiday trip when I collected a number of newspapers published purely for 'Seniors'.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.