Newsround facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newsround |
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Newsround logo as of 2019
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| Created by |
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| Presented by |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
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| Editor(s) | Lewis James |
| Running time | 5–15 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Original release | 4 April 1972 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | BBC Television Children's Newsreel |
| Related shows |
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Newsround is a special news show from the BBC made just for kids. It started way back on 4 April 1972. It was one of the first TV news shows in the world made especially for young people.
At first, it was a short series by the BBC Children's Department. They wanted to give kids their own news. Newsround is usually watched by kids aged 5 to 17.
Contents
History of Newsround
How It All Started
When Newsround first began, it was called John Craven's Newsround. John Craven was the main presenter from 1972 until 1989. Sometimes, other presenters from the main BBC News would step in.
In 1987, the show changed its name to simply Newsround. John Craven stayed on as a presenter and editor. The show slowly built its own team of reporters. These included Helen Rollason and Lucy Mathen. There was also Reg Turnill, who was their space expert for a long time!
Breaking Big News
Newsround was often the first in Britain to share major news. For example, it was the first British TV show to report the sad news of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. This was a very important moment.
The show also reported first on an attack on Pope John Paul II in 1981. And it was the first to show reports from the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992.
Growing and Changing
In 2002, Newsround got even bigger! It started having news updates all through the day. This happened when the CBBC Channel launched. You could watch it on BBC One, BBC Two, and the CBBC Channel.
At this time, Newsround was the most-watched show for kids in the UK. It also had very high ratings for how much kids enjoyed it. After the 9/11 attacks, Newsround even made a guide to help children understand scary news.
In 2011, the BBC Children's Department moved. So, Newsround started broadcasting from new studios. These are at Dock10 in Salford Quays.
In 2020, some changes happened. The 4 PM show, which had been on since 1972, was stopped. The 8:15 AM broadcast also changed. The BBC decided that kids were not watching traditional TV as much after school. They wanted to focus more on the morning show for schools. They also put more effort into the Newsround website.
Where and When to Watch
You can watch Newsround every day on the CBBC TV channel. There's an eight-minute news bulletin around 7:45 AM. On Saturday mornings, you can also catch it on BBC Two.
Just like other BBC News shows, you can watch Newsround for 24 hours on BBC iPlayer. You can also find it on the Newsround section of the CBBC website.
Meet the Presenters
Here are the people who present Newsround today:
- De'Graft Mensah (since 2019)
- Shanequa Paris (since 2020)
- Ricky Boleto (since 2008)
- Hayley Hassall (since 2009)
- Jenny Lawrence (since 2013)
- Nina Blissett (since 2021)
Sometimes, these presenters step in:
- Alex Humphreys (since 2018)
Other Newsround Shows
Newsround Specials
Newsround Specials are like mini-documentaries. They are usually about 15 minutes long. They used to be called Newsround Extra. These specials have been around since the late 1970s. They often replace the regular news show on one day of the week.
These specials cover important topics for young people. Here are a few examples:
- The Wrong Trainers: This was an animated series about child poverty. It won awards for being a great children's program.
- The Worst Thing Ever: This documentary showed what it's like when parents get divorced.
- Gone: This featured interviews with children who had lost someone they loved.
- Whose Side Are You On?: A drama about how bystanders can help stop bullying.
- Ricky Investigates: A series where Ricky Boleto looked into different topics.
- My Autism and Me: This special was about what it's like to have autism. It featured 13-year-old Rosie King.
- Cyberbullying: Ricky Boleto investigated cyberbullying and heard from young people who had experienced it.
- Finding My Family: This series explored family histories, including stories about the Holocaust and the Black Lives Matter movement.
- Let's Talk About Periods: This special talked about periods and why it's important to discuss them openly.
- Let's Talk About Sexism: This special explored what people think about sexism.
Past Spin-offs
- Newsround Showbiz: This was a fun show about entertainment news. It started in 2002 but ended in 2005.
- Sportsround: This was a sports show that aired on Saturday mornings. It started in 2005 and finished in 2010. It was later replaced by Match of the Day Kickabout.
- Newsround Review of the Year: For many years, Newsround would have a special show at Christmas or New Year. It would look back at the biggest news stories of the year.
