Tough topics
A radio presenter in Belfast recently asked me why Newsround has decided to “change its agenda”. She was reacting to the news that we’ve been given the go ahead to make two new specials; one on divorce, the other on knife crime. “Divorce I understand...” she said “But knife crime?”
To spare her blushes, I’ll say she’s 30-something. As a child, she watched the show regularly and now views it fondly, albeit through a haze of nostalgia. Her memories of Newsround are all about pandas and space shuttle launches.
And to some extent, that’s true, but Newsround also has a history of not shying away from darker stories and social issues. At times, it means our output can be contentious. Different parents have different ideas about what they think their children should know about the world and we have a duty to keep that in mind every single day. At the same time though, the reality is that children pick up on news events from other media as well and our contact with them shows that they often turn to us during traumatic and difficult times, hoping that we can provide some kind of context and reassurance.
Knife crime came to our attention when we commissioned a survey late last year into the views and experiences of children aged 6 – 12. Alarmingly, 10% said they were scared of being stabbed or shot.
We are determined that our forthcoming programme will both address and allay these fears. To a large extent that’s what we seek to do on a daily basis whether we are discussing the situation in Iraq, the pressure of SATs or terrorism in the UK.
When the London bombs exploded, the e-mails kids sent us about their reactions to the events, became the inspiration for the Bafta award winning drama ‘That Summer Day’. Similarly, our forthcoming divorce programme ‘(The Worst Thing Ever?’) takes an innovative approach – mixing drama with animation but all of it is based on the real life experiences of the children who watch our shows.
Newsround’s agenda hasn’t changed but perhaps the world has; our job is simply to explain it. Our special programmes will be on air in spring. Watch out for them and let me know if you think we’ve achieved our aims.
© MMXI
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Comments
I think it is disgraceful that you should attempt to bring children’s attention to knife crime, something that the vast majority of them will not experience in their childhood. All you will do is add a burden to them that was never there in the first place.
It is pretty high and mighty of you to think that you can allay fears. This is the job of parents – not you. The very coverage will have the opposite affect and help to increase the 10% who fear knife crime to an even higher number. I think this is wholly irresponsible.
I am a fortysomething who does remember the Newsround of my day not shirking from difficult topics and support the present team in the making of these specisla.
All I ask is that children who do not have accesss to the internet be given a helpline number after the show so they can chat to via text or voice to a trained counsellor about any issues that the programmes raise.
I agree with Ken at 5.47
I would go further and suggest that broadcast control as opposed to content control be handed to the viewer.
So you make the program with our money thats what you do.
You put it to air at say midnight we the guardians of our children view and record it.
We advise you of its suitability or not.
If a majority are against it does not go to air as a scheduled item.
The minority may show it from the recording to their children.The minority rights are protected.
If the majority agree with your view and production it goes to air as schedule.
The minority in this may exercise their right to avoid it thus protecting their rights.
As you may appreciate this is a simple extension of citizen journalism and editorial control.
Many programs are available as "watch again" this idea only requires this technology to be used as "watch before" delivery.
Broadcast times are changing.
Editorial democracy has arrived except to those who refuse to embrace it.
It's the job of parents to explain to children about knife crime, not the broadcasters. For the much younger viewers, they could possibly get very frightened and upset. However, if they must mention subjects like this they must do so in a subtle manner, I do believe children need to know what world we're living in but don't make them frightened of it.
Ken I think you are missing the point. Our children hear about news everyday, as parents we can't stop that happening. Newsround at least explains things in ways that my children certainly understand. This programme seems to be reacting to what kids have told them and if they say they are worried about crime then news round is surely doing the responsible thing by broaching it in way that is appropriate and sensible. I have never seen news round as irresponsible. In fact I think many other news programmes could learn from what they do!
in response to kens post. far be it from anyone to tell him how to guide his children in life far less newsround. he always has the option of switching off and sheilding them from the reality. im sure many parents would be grateful however unlikely their child may be to experience knife crime, that they do have an awareness of these evil actions taking place and making them more self aware when out on their own. id much rather know my child could spot the danger signs and undesirables than go along oblivious and suffer at the hands of someone who carries a knife.