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Children's news program facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A children's news program is a type of news program that is specifically aimed at children, usually 6–14 years olds, rather than an adult audience. The programme is usually made by the network's news and current affairs department, rather than the children's department.

As the programme is aimed at a much younger audience from ordinary adults focused news programme, there are significant differences in the style and make-up of the programme. These are for example: the programme has news stories that children would be interested in, usually avoiding deep political and business news and more dealing with popular cultures such as music and television. The programme is presented in with much lighter tone, with the language being much simpler and less complex and has graphics and sounds that are much more colourful.

Usually, the news presenters are much younger than regular news presenters and acting in a much more informal environment than regular newscasters, with casual clothing and either standing or sitting on a chair, rather than behind a desk. Some presenters use the programme in the past as a platform to later work as a formal newscaster or correspondent.

History

No one network is responsible for the creation of a news programme aimed at children. CBS first broadcast a series of news clips aimed at children in 1971 under the title of "In the News". However, in 1972, the first channel to broadcast a new segment for children was by the BBC with John Craven's Newsround. Accounts tended to avoid the political emphasis of adult news and instead sought to build an ‘‘interesting’’ agenda. In the same year, Sweden's SVT started broadcasting a weekly news roundup programme called Barnjournalen (Children's Journal). Later the Netherlands' NOS created a children's show Jeugdjournaal (Youth Journal) in 1981.

List of current and former children's news programs

Current shows

Country Program Name Network Former networks First date of broadcast
Australia BtN ABC Me ABC 1968-2003; 2005–present
Germany logo! [de] KiKa ZDF 1988
Ireland News2day RTÉ Two 2003
Netherlands Jeugdjournaal NPO Zapp Nederland 1, Nederland 2,

Nederland 3, Z@ppelin

1981
Sweden Lilla Aktuellt [sv] SVT Barn SVT1 1994
United Kingdom Newsround CBBC BBC One 1972
Norway Supernytt [no] NRK 2010

Former shows

Country Program Name Original Network Other Networks Broadcast
Sweden Barnjournalen TV1 SVT1 1972-1991
United Kingdom Newsround Showbiz CBBC 2001-2005
United Kingdom Sportsround CBBC 2005–2010
United States In the News CBS 1971-1986; 1996-1997
United States 30 Minutes CBS 1978-1982
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