The Agenda facts for kids

The Agenda with Steve Paikin, often just called The Agenda, is a popular TV show in Canada. It's all about current affairs, which means it talks about important news and events happening right now. The show is on TVOntario (TVO), which is a public TV channel in Ontario.

The main host, Steve Paikin, likes to go deep into topics. This is called long-form journalism. Each hour-long show usually focuses on just one or two big subjects. You can watch The Agenda on TVO on weekdays. You can also find past episodes on their website and on mobile devices.

About The Agenda

The Agenda helps young people understand important issues. It covers topics that affect Canada and the world. The show aims to get people thinking and talking about big ideas.

How It Started

The Agenda first started in 2006. It took the place of another show called Studio 2, which Steve Paikin also hosted. Another show called Fourth Reading became a part of The Agenda for a while.

In 2012, TVO changed some of its programs. The Agenda became even more important. It started to cover some lectures and big discussions that other shows used to have. The TV channel wanted The Agenda to be a main place for people to learn and share ideas.

When Steve Paikin is away, journalist Nam Kiwanuka often hosts the show. She also hosts the show all summer long. During the summer, the show is called The Agenda in the Summer.

What Happens on the Show

The show often has guests who are experts on different topics. They discuss important issues. Sometimes, viewers can join in the conversation.

In the past, Thursday shows were called Your Agenda. Viewers could chat online or send their thoughts using Twitter. The show also used to have short "essays" at the start of some Thursday shows. These essays were written by different people.

Sometimes, The Agenda broadcasts live from special places. For example, they have broadcast from the University of Toronto Munk Centre for International Studies. These shows often focus on world issues. Steve Paikin would even take questions from the audience there. Viewers could also ask questions online after the show.

The show has also traveled around Ontario. This was called On the Road. They would visit different communities. They talked about the local economy and what was important to people there. These trips often included a community meeting called an "AgendaCamp."

In 2009, The Agenda worked with the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo. They covered a science festival called Quantum to Cosmos (Q2C). The show featured scientists discussing topics like space travel, computers, and genetics.

The Agenda's Website

The website for The Agenda is a great place to find more information. You can watch old episodes there. They also have podcasts, which are like audio shows you can listen to.

The website also has blogs, like The Inside Agenda and The Fifth Column. Steve Paikin also has his own blog there. You can find videos, timelines of events, and even polls or surveys.