Editorial: Introducing the IMPACT Journal and its First Issue

Welcome to this, the first issue of the International Modern Perspectives on Academia and Community Today (IMPACT) Journal. In creating this Journal and producing this first issue we have proven that multidisciplinary working is possible. Moreover, we have shown that as academics, we have the power to challenge the norms and work in innovative ways within the contexts of our institutions. Thinking and working in innovative ways reflects on our practices as we reimagine our work and role in working with the community. Through the creation of a multidisciplinary Journal, we intend to provide a platform that will not only host approaches used in various disciplines but will also act as a merging point by putting forward perspectives from the communities alongside academic work. In doing so, we hope to promote new forms of dialogue, which have the potential to generate new research directions, and help cement the notion that academia and community are intertwined rather than separate entities within the social relations. The purpose of academic practice is to serve the needs of the community as both members of the community and academics who adopt an advocacy standpoint. Therefore, we hope that through the collaborative working practices underpinning this initiative we can achieve our aim to promote community involvement and engagement and meaningful contribution in the short and long term.

Challenges and Rewards of Engagement with Academia and the Wider Community

The Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) is one of Northern Ireland’s leading human rights organisations fighting for political and social change. In this interview, Mr Brian Gormally discusses the difference between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ law, and how his organisation applies legal theory to the lived experience of Northern Irish communities in its work. In outlining some of the CAJ’s recent projects – such as its Model Implementation Bill for the Stormont House Agreement – Mr Gormally describes successful working relationships with academia, politicians, civil society and members of the community. It is also noted that the CAJ engages with the community in a specific and strategic way; rather than targeting the general public, the organisation produces information and research for those with their hands on the levers of power. Nevertheless, Mr Gormally identifies some striking differences in public attitudes towards human rights between England and Northern Ireland, and praises the community sector in the Republic of Ireland for crafting personal and anecdotal narratives to help win the same-sex marriage referendum. Finally, Mr Gormally describes the benefits and challenges of working closely with academia, concluding that such collaboration feels natural and has resulted in long and successful relationships with local academic institutions.

Closing the school attendance gap in rural communities in Nigeria: school leadership and multi-actor approach in community engagement

The purpose of this paper is to make a case for school leaders in rural schools in Nigeria to build effective engagements with their communities in improving school attendance rate. The state of rural education in Nigeria has been a concern going by the fact that rural communities have the highest number of school dropouts and illiterate people. No country can make headway with a large army of illiterates and school dropouts because education is regarded as an instrument for national transformation. A good number of rural students do not show commitment towards attendance. While the government is often looked upon to address this issue, there seems to be limited focus on rural schools, especially the role of leadership, in addressing the challenge. Therefore, the paper proposes that rural school leaders should adopt a multi-actor approach in engaging their communities to mobilise both human and material resources in addressing poor student attendance and other school challenges associated with the problem. The paper also proposes an approach or a model of engagement.

The Demonization of Delinquency: Contesting Media Reporting and Political Rhetoric on Youth Crime

Youth crime has historically been depicted as an exponential social problem continually increasing in severity and occurrences (Muncie, 2010; Males, 1996). The extent of political and media focus on youth crime within contemporary society demonstrates this phenomenon continues unabated (Goldson & Muncie, 2015). Debates have emerged questioning the legitimacy of the preoccupation with youth crime and the influence of media and political representations upon public perceptions (Merlo & Benekos, 2017; Ruigrok et al, 2017; Henderson, 2014; Egan et al, 2013; Cohen, 2011). This paper adds to the debate by asking; is the contemporary media and political focus on youth crime justified? To answer this question, the paper initially examines evidence-based research and statistics on the nature and extent of youth crime and explores political and media representations across the last decade for comparative analysis. This leads to a central argument that political and media representations of youth crime is unwarranted, unbalanced and unjustified. Furthermore, the paper provides context of media framing and political strategizing and considers the repercussions within critical analysis of theoretical concepts of; recognition theory (Honneth, 1995), labelling (Becker, 1973) and differential association (Sutherland, 1947), to advance understanding on the disparities between media and political perceptions of youth crime in opposition to societal reality.