NEWS / PROJECTS: UNICEF launching children's news service

Dhaka, Sep 5 (bdnews24.com)—The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and bdnews24.com, the first Internet newspaper and the largest news agency of Bangladesh, are jointly launching a news service for children. 

The programme will be launched on Thursday through signing of an agreement by the two organisations at a ceremony at the newspaper's Mohakhali office. 

UNICEF is considering the initiative as an opportunity for children to contribute in making a child-friendly news industry and for strengthening their rights. 

Children can participate in the service through browsing http://kidz.bdnews24.com, a section devoted for children by the newspaper.

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NEWS: Thailand to host media summit on young readers

A summit discussing ideas and strategies to attract young readers to all platforms of media will be hosted by Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, according to the global organisation of the world’s newspapers and news publishers WAN-IFRA, also the organizer.

The event, the first of its kind which is named WAN-IFRA Young Reader Asia-Pacific Summit, will be attended by veteran industry professionals from India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Belgium, Sweden, and Australia, who are going to provide lessons from successful young reader initiatives at newspapers in Asia, Europe, and Australia.

The focus will be on social media, simple ideas for attracting younger audiences, and advice on rethinking core strategies to appeal to all-age groups.

“Any news organisation that wants to remain relevant to all its readers and users should focus on getting the critical 15- to 24-year old audience on board, as well as reaching children at earlier life stages, their parents and their teachers,” says Aralynn McMane, an executive director at WAN-IFRA.

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NEWS / EVENTS: WAN-IFRA Launches first Asian Young Reader Summit

“Catch them young – or not at all!” is the theme of the first WAN-IFRA Young Reader Asia-Pacific Summit, to be held in Bangkok on 10 and 11 July. The event aims to do provide ideas and strategies for engaging the next generation of news consumers on all platforms.

full article - event website

ARTICLES / PROJECTS: Kids' Newspaper Debuts in Union County

Kidsville News! the nation’s fastest growing children’s newspaper is now available in Union County. Kidsville News! of Union County, based in Summit and represented by Publisher, Susan L. Pinto, of All About Kids Media, LLC, is pleased to bring Kidsville News! and its educational initiative to the residents of Union County.

Kidsville News! is a free, educational resource for all elementary-age children, their families and teachers, which encourages reading as a lifelong habit and promotes literacy nationwide. We are currently in 8 counties in New Jersey and growing, as well as in 16 states nationwide. Bill Bowman, President of Kidsville News! Inc., who launched the educational, and literacy initiative in Fayetteville, NC in 1998, said, “Our growth has been phenomenal”.

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NEWS / OPPORTUNITIES / FESTIVALS / PRINT: “My Dream Interview” Festival draws youth to newspapers

Newspapers from around the world are invited to participate in a new global journalism experience for youth organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) that results in young people interviewing entertainment stars or other public figures – and increased circulation for participating newspapers.

The "My Dream Interview" international youth reporter festival of success stories, supported by the Fundacion Acindar of Argentina, asks school teams of 11- to 15-year olds to choose a prominent person they would like to interview, then come up with the questions to ask.

The school teams submit their idea and questions to the participating newspaper, which chooses the best set of questions, helps the winning team conduct the interview, and publishes it. Newspapers can then enter the interview in a worldwide WAN-IFRA competition, with the winners presented at a ceremony at the IFRA Expo in Madrid in October. Winning interviews will be distributed globally by The Interview People, with all royalties going to winning schools.

Already on board are La Nacion of Argentina, The Monitor of Uganda, Polskapresse of Poland, The West Australian, and many others. The registration deadline is 29 February. WAN-IFRA is also providing a guide to newspapers to help teachers work with students on creating a journalistic interview

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CALL FOR ARTICLES: The Peace Gong

Keywords: children's newspaper, volunteerism, child reporter

Description: 

Be the change you wish to see in the world”- Mahatma Gandhi Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Foundation in association with UNV India and Anant Vikas Trust is bringing out a special issue of “The Peace Gong-the children’s newspaper” based on the four objectives of IYV+10: recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of Volunteerism.

In view of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets, IYV+ 10 offers an opportunity to celebrate but also to assess the progress made towards achieving the objectives of IYV.The aim of this issue is to capture the voices of children across the world on VOLUNTEERING to facilitate efforts by children for a peaceful world. Preparing children for a global non-violent future is a significant of volunteer promotion initiatives.

The Editor of The Peace Gong, a class XI student of Kolkata, India evocatively points this out, “Through the Peace Gong we hope to bring together our friends not only across the country but also abroad to be catalysts for a non-violent world with a foundation of equality, justice and universal understanding of each other’s concerns.” This children’s newspaper is a Media and Information Literacy initiative of the Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Foundation. The special issue on VOLUNTEERING will be published in December. We request you to facilitate writings/cartoons/comic strips/posters/poems by children from your country for this special issue. The writings by children could focus on: a) Child-led/other volunteer initiatives in your city/country which inspired you most. (500-600 words) b) Interview of a child or group of children/ other volunteers who are volunteering to bring change in their community. (300-500 words) c) Perspective- small perspective pieces by children on what they think on volunteering. (100-200 words). d) Poems and/cartoons/ posters/ comic strips on volunteering

It would be great if each contribution is accompanied by relevant photographs. Do not forget to mention the name and contact details of the child who contributes a particular story/poem, cartoon etc. along with her/his class, name of the school and the city/towns. Please note that, only children up to the age of 18 are eligible to contribute, as it is a children’s newspaper. For parents and legal guardians Participants will be identified as the authors of the drawings and texts only with their first name and their region or country of origin. At the time of submitting a drawing the parents or other legal guardians of the participating children are deemed to have read, understood and be in agreement with the contents of this leaflet. 

Please show this text above to your parents before you submit your work.

Send your entries to: amita.dahiya@undp.org or rabindranathtagorefoundation@gmail.com

The last date to receive the entries is December 15, 2011.

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NEWS: Young reporters trained by UNICEF tackle social issues in rural India

‘The State of the World’s Children 2011 – Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity,’ UNICEF’s flagship report, focuses on the development and rights of more than a billion children aged 10 to 19 worldwide. This series of stories, essays and multimedia features seeks to accelerate and elevate adolescents’ fight against poverty, inequality and gender discrimination.

By Diana Coulter

CHHATTISGARH, India, 6 May 2011 – When Pausha Madharia, 16, speaks, she gives voice to the hopes, dreams and fears of every child in the Indian State of Chhattisgarh.

Standing before the State Assembly recently, she shared her concerns about child labour, discrimination faced by young girls and the troubles that some students encounter when they’re simply trying to attend school. Pausha told legislators that drunken men sprawled on the road outside a wine shop in Murmunda village were regularly threatening local schoolchildren.

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PROJECTS / WEBSITES: Student News Action Network

In brief

The Student News Action Network was created, and is maintained, by students and teachers at Washington International School in collaboration with TakingITGlobal and bureau schools worldwide.

Global Issues Journalism

The Student News Action Network takes the concept of the school newspaper beyond school walls and the confines of print media, allowing students to work collaboratively on a global level to create an interactive, multimedia-rich student-driven online newspaper. It brings together a network of students in an online peer-driven environment to address issues of local and global significance, such as poverty, the environment, and human rights, in a creative and constructive format that culminates in meaningful efforts to make a positive impact on their world. Contributors bring their unique voices to the discussion, representing their regions and their cultural histories.

Website: http://newsaction.tigweb.org/about/

QUESTIONS: Youth and media: How do we get children to consume the news?

Posted on: 12/04/2010 Children Region: Worldwide

More and more people around the world are consuming news. However, in many countries, a large percentage of the population is left out of the market: children.

A newspaper for youth called Mi Super Diario is changing that reality in Bolivia and Mexico, according to a recent article in Editor & Publisher magazine. In Mexico City alone, Mi Super Diario distributes 1.15 million copies every two weeks to local grammar schools.

"Children just as much as adults need a newspaper that explains the current news, informs them about their world and how to understand it -- all in perfect Spanish," says Carlos Echeverry, founder of Mi Super Diario.

Do children in your region consume news? How do you think journalists in your region can better involve youth in the media landscape? Which issues should be covered in youth media, and which should be left out?

participate

NEWS: Child reporters in the offing (INDIA)

JAMSHEDPUR: Day is not far when the general public and senior government officials would be able to keep an eye over the quality of midday meals, attendance of teachers in schools, embezzlement of funds by contractors and directives issued by BDOs to execute development works in remote villages.

Thanks to the Unicef-sponsored child reporter programme, which is all set to begin in Jharkhand once the trainers and teachers are ready to do the assigned work by March. The child reporter programme will enable students pursuing education in government schools to become journalists. These reporters would collect information and submit reports. Their articles and news items would be placed in a special "Children's Newspaper", which would be circulated along with the dailies.

Communication officer of Unicef, Jharkhand, Sugata Roy said that Jharkhand is the 14th state to implement this programme. "Thirteen states, including Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, have already implemented this programme. At several places, the "Children's Newspaper" has made a good impact," he said.

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OPPORTUNITIES / NEWSPAPERS: Concurso periodístico (ARGENTINA)

Hola colegas: quedan 15 días para poder participar del concurso periodístico sobre tratamiento de la violencia sexual hacia niños, niñas y adolescentes, que ofrece entre 15.000 y 22.000 pesos para financiar la investigación, más 5.700 pesos para la propuesta ganadora por Argentina. 

La fecha límite es el 29 de enero.  

Compartimos algunas ideas que pueden ayudar a pensar posibles investigaciones:

• La trata de niños y niñas y adolescentes en las fronteras para fines de explotación sexual.
• La explotación sexual en las rutas.
  
• La explotación sexual en rededor de las grandes construcciones
• La explotación de niños y niñas indígenas
  
• Experiencias destacables para combatir la violencia sexual
  
• La violencia sexual y las nuevas tecnologías: pornografía infantil en Internet
  
• ¿Cómo están preparados las escuelas para apoyar a las y los alumnos víctimas de violencia sexual?
  
• ¿Cómo funcionan los sistemas de denuncia contra violencia sexual en el país?
  
• ¿Cómo funcionan los sistemas de protección y tratamiento de niños y niñas victimas de violencia sexual?
  
• La impunidad y la violencia sexual: ¿Cómo la justicia trata los crimines sexuales hacia niños y niñas?
  
• ¿Cómo están los niveles de gastos del gobierno para enfrentar la violencia sexual?
  
• Las leyes para enfrentar la violencia en el país son consideradas eficaces? ¿Habría que hacer cambios?
• ¿Cómo la familia puede proteger mejor sus niños y niñas del abuso? ¿Cómo saber que si están siendo molestados?
  
• ¿Cómo funcionan las redes de explotación?
  

Sobre el concurso La Red ANDI Brasil organiza desde 2002 un concurso periodístico sobre tratamiento de la violencia sexual hacia niños, niñas y adolescentes. Este año se extiende a periodistas de Argentina, Uruguay y Paraguay, y nuestra organización es la referente para Argentina. Desde Periodismo Social queremos invitarlos especialmente a participar. El concurso no concede reconocimiento a producciones periodísticas ya divulgadas.

Todos los detalles pueden verlo en: http://www.andi.org.br/primerconcursoregional/ En la página de inicio de Periodismo Social (www.periodismosocial.net) pueden ver materiales sobre la temática que estamos preparando y seleccionado especialmente para colaborar con las y los periodistas interesados en participar.

Cualquier consulta no duden en comunicarse con Silvina Molina: smolina@periodismosocial.net

Gracias y espero que participen y ayuden a difundir esta iniciativa.

ARTICLES / NEWSPAPERS: French Papers Aim at Younger Readers

Published: October 27, 2009

PARIS — Newspapers have tried many things to stave off a seemingly relentless decline in readers. Now France is pushing forward with a novel approach: giving away papers to young readers in an effort to turn them into regular customers.

The government Tuesday detailed plans of a project called “My Free Newspaper,” under which 18- to 24-year-olds will be offered a free, yearlong subscription to a newspaper of their choice.

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EVENTS: 8th World Young Reader Conference

Only 11 days to go! The 8th World Young Reader Conference will take place in Prague 27-30 September. You can still register HERE

Latest speakers include:

Paul Wehberg, new media director, Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, Germany (2009 World Young Reader Prize winner for editorial strategy) on how the newspaper teamed with a social network to produce a youth supplement that generates both readership and advertising.

Anna Homqvist, chief editor, and Ylva Hvarfner, managing director, Familjeliv.com, Sweden, on how they turned this network for parents, especially mothers, into an editorial and commercial success by having marketing and editorial working closely together and forming partnerships with newspapers of the Stampen group in a concept that is moving into other countries.

Michael Smith, executive director, Media Management Center, USA, on new research with the Newspaper Association of America Foundation about adolescent preferences in newspaper news sites with some startling lessons for online news sites in general.

Grzegorz "Greg" Piechota, special projects editor and two-time winner of the World Young Reader Prize, Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland, on how that paper continues to innovate in deceptively simple ways.

Roxana Morduchowicz, director of media education for the Ministry of Education of Argentina, on how a new WAN-IFRA resource helped get support from a variety of sources and how you can use it to do the same.

And more..

It's not too late to find out more and sign up at www.wan-press.org/prague2009



OUR PARTNERS:
Main partners for the World Young Reader Conference are Norske Skog, the Norway-based paper producer, and the Czech Publishers Association.

Other supporters include Smart Technologies, makers of SMART interactive whiteboards, DHL, our official transporter, PNS, the Czech print media distributors and the Lord Mayor of Prague.

We also thank these other partners: People in Need, the European Journalism Centre, and these Prague-based newspaper companies Borgis, Economia, Mafra, Ringier, the Prague Post and Vltavalabe Press.

ARTICLES / NEWSPAPERS: Encouraging kids to get media savvy by reading the paper (INDONESIA)

Encouraging kids to get media savvy by reading the paper

Mon, 07/27/2009 1:59 PM | City

Bella Hutagalung, 42, a mother of two, finds it easier to motivate her children by showing them examples of children's achievement stories published in the Berani newspaper.

"The section on achievements can inspire children. That's what I like about the newspaper. But there is only one newspaper for children and I don't think that is enough," she told The Jakarta Post recently.

She said she decided to subscribe to the newspaper because her children had asked for it and their school had recommended it.

Reta, another parent, said the newspaper was good in terms of providing news and knowledge, but said she felt that it lacked fiction stories.

"I think children would like it better if it provided more fiction stories," she said.

Teacher and journalist Witdarmono started the newspaper for elementary and junior high school students in April 2006, aiming to develop children's interest and understanding of the media and the news.

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EVENTS: 8th World Young Reader Conference

Participants who sign up by 31 July for the 8th World Young Reader Conference (27-30 September in Prague) will have free access to a webinar on strategies of Total Youth Think scheduled for 7 August.

The session will be conducted by Marcelo Rech, General Director for Project Management of the RBS Group in Brazil, whose flagship newspaper, Zero Hora, credits its Total Youth Think techniques for a 78% penetration rate among young people aged 20 - 29 years, and a 71% penetration rate among thise aged 15 - 19.

For more info and to register for the conference CLICK HERE

This offer applies to participants who have both registered and paid for the conference by 31 July.

The Conference is supported by Norske Skog, the Noway-based global paper producer, and the Czech Publishers Association. We also warmly thank Metro Prague, Mladá Fronta DNES and Lidove Noviny newspapers, and Futuroom Multimedia education center.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Aralynn McMane, Director of Young Readership Developement at: aralynn.mcmane@wan-ifra.org

NEWS / PROJECTS / AUDIO: ‘The Youth Times’ newspaper speaks volumes for Palestinian teenagers (MIDDLE EAST)

'The Youth Times' newspaper speaks volumes for Palestinian teenagers

NEW YORK, USA, 25 June 2009 – Although much of the news from the Occupied Palestinian Territory is focused on violence and conflict, there is different, yet just as important, reporting happening on the ground in the region – reporting from a distinctly youth perspective.

AUDIO: Listen now

'The Youth Times', a project of the Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA), is a monthly 24-page newspaper published in Arabic and English by young people, for young people. It is the only Palestinian newspaper for youth that is distributed throughout the territory.

Through a comprehensive training program, 'The Youth Times' develops young people aged 14 to 25 into leaders while providing both Palestinian and international audiences with vital stories that speak across borders.

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PRESS RELEASES: Young Reader Prize Adds Press Freedom Category

Paris, 24 March 2009 - For immediate release

Young Reader Prize Adds Press Freedom Category

The World Young Reader Prize, an annual award from the World Association of Newspapers to recognise newspapers that do the most to develop young readership, has added a press freedom category to honour newspapers that teach effectively about the fragility and importance of press freedom in a democratic society.

The deadline for the press freedom award is 15 April. The award will be announced on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day and presented at the 8th World Young Reader Conference, to be held on 27 to 30 September in Prague.

Judges for the special press freedom category will be WAN Golden Pen laureates Doan Viet Hoat (Vietnam) and Pius Njawe (Cameroon) and Nayla Tueni, daughter of assassinated Lebanese publisher Gebran Tueni.

In addition to the new Press Freedom category, WAN has created a new “Making the News” category that honours innovative projects that allow young people to try their hand as journalists. Other categories are Editorial, Brand, Public Service and Newspapers in Education. Deadline for all but the press freedom category is 5 June.

The World Young Reader Prizes are awarded annually to innovative newspapers that have devised, in the judges' opinion, the best project or activity in the past 24 months in one or more of the main areas of young reader development. "Young reader" refers to those under age 25.

The prize is sponsored by the paper manufacturer Norske Skog as part of its support for WAN’s young readership development activities.

Full details about the prize can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/worldyoungreaderprize

WAN is also reinforcing other initiatives that engage young people in the defence of press freedom and that encourage teachers to make sure that young people understand the importance of, and threats to, press freedom.

These include:

- Creation of a Facebook group called, “Show Your Face to Free Shi Tao,” where Facebook users are encouraged to download posters of the jailed Chinese journalist and upload photos of themselves posing with it and their local newspaper. Information about the group can be found at http://www.wan-press.org/nie/articles.php?id=1923

- Creating new exercises and materials on press freedom themes for parents and teachers targeting 12- to 16-year olds, with the help of Newspapers in Education experts from Argentina, Belgium, Palestine and Denmark. The exercises incorporate WAN’s 2007-2008 press freedom films, available on YouTube.

The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom and the professional and business interests of newspapers world-wide. Representing 18,000 newspapers, its membership includes 77 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 11 regional and world-wide press groups.

Inquiries to:
Larry Kilman, Director of Communications and Public Affairs,
WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00.
Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36.
E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr