Janine Jackson

In the following viewpoint, Janine Jackson contends that the media unfairly blame teenage motherhood for causing poverty, which enables policy makers to justify draconian welfare reform. However, according to Jackson, the majority of teen mothers were already poor when they got pregnant. By blaming teenage mothers for economic problems that have complex causes, the mainstream media make it difficult for policy makers to find real solutions to the economic problems that contribute to teenage pregnancy. Janine Jackson is the program director of FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting), a national media watch group, and a frequent contributor to its publication Extra!

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. As cited by the author, what does Charles Murray consider the “old way, which worked”"

2. What are three disadvantages of teen motherhood, as...