Newsround
Encyclopedia
Newsround is a BBC
children's news
programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children. Initially commissioned as a short series by BBC Children's Department, who held editorial control, its facilities are provided by BBC News
. The programme is aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds.
bulletins, including Richard Whitmore
. By the 1980s, the programme had developed its own presentation team including Roger Finn
and Helen Rollason
with Craven in the dual role of chief presenter and programme editor.
Shortly before Craven's departure, the show was renamed Newsround, and was now anchored by a rotating team of presenters. Past presenters have included David Bull
, Juliet Morris
, Krishnan Guru-Murthy
, Julie Etchingham
, Chris Rogers, Kate Sanderson, Matthew Price
, and Becky Jago
. Regular reporters on the programme, who have also presented it, include Paul McDowell, Paul Welsh
, Lizo Mzimba
and Terry Baddoo
.
The distinctive opening theme used for the first fifteen years of the programme was not composed especially for it, but is instead the opening eight bars of a 1968 cover of Johnny One Note
by Ted Heath and his Music
. The closing sting used the last couple of bars of New Worlds by John Baker, recorded by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
.
Newsround was the first British television programme to break the news of the loss
of the Space Shuttle
Challenger
on 28 January 1986. As the event was shown during the opening titles, it is often erroneously stated that the tragedy happened live on air, but it in fact happened about fifteen minutes earlier. This edition was presented by Roger Finn, who had only recently joined the programme.
The programme was also first in Britain to report an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II
in Vatican City
in 1981 and provided the first reports from the Windsor Castle
fire of November 1992.
In February 2002, Newsround expanded from a sole ten-minute programme on weeknights to through-the-day bulletins seven days a week to tie-in with the launch of the CBBC Channel
. In 2009, a small bureau for the programme was opened at the BBC's former Manchester studios
. As part of the relocation of the BBC Children's Department, Newsround began broadcasting from new studios at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays
on Monday 21 November 2011.
's transmission at 7am. One-minute bulletins are broadcast on BBC Two at 7:25am. Five-minute bulletins air on the CBBC Channel
at 8:25am and 6:25pm. Recently, Newsround introduced a number of short 60 second bulletins in addition to the other digital updates, shown at 3.25pm, 4.25pm and 5.45pm on the CBBC Channel
.
The main ten-minute edition of Newsround airs on BBC One at 5:05pm.
Bulletins are also broadcast on the CBBC Channel
during the morning on weekend.
Newsround Specials in recent years have included:
A one-off Newsround Investigates documentary on arson
in schools was broadcast in May 2006.
's launch in February 2002. The latter version of the show was hosted by regular Newsround presenters/reporters Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, Adam Fleming
, Rachel Horne and Thalia Pellegrini
, and produced by Sinéad Rocks. The programme was axed in 2005.
. In 2010 it was presented by Ore Oduba with reporters Des Clarke and Jon Franks.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
children's news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children. Initially commissioned as a short series by BBC Children's Department, who held editorial control, its facilities are provided by BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
. The programme is aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds.
History
Originally known as John Craven's Newsround, it was mostly presented by John Craven between 4 April 1972 and 22 June 1989. Originally, stand-in presenters came from main BBC NewsBBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
bulletins, including Richard Whitmore
Richard Whitmore
Richard Whitmore is a broadcaster, writer and actor. Whitmore is best known for his work as a BBC newsreader in the 1970s and 1980s...
. By the 1980s, the programme had developed its own presentation team including Roger Finn
Roger Finn
Roger Finn is a British television presenter. Finn was born Roger Armstrong-Wright but is believed to have taken the Stage name Finn from his favourite book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. He spent much of his upbringing in Hong Kong, but boarded in England at The King's School...
and Helen Rollason
Helen Rollason
Helen Frances Rollason MBE was a British sports journalist and television presenter.-Early life:Born 11 March 1956, Helen Rollason was an adopted child. She was born in London, grew up in Bath and studied at Chelsea School of Physical Education, Eastbourne and Dalhousie University, in Canada...
with Craven in the dual role of chief presenter and programme editor.
Shortly before Craven's departure, the show was renamed Newsround, and was now anchored by a rotating team of presenters. Past presenters have included David Bull
David Bull
David Bull is a British physician, author, and host and commentator on a variety of British television programmes, such as Newsround, Living's Most Haunted Live!, Channel 4's Richard & Judy, the BBC's Watchdog, Watchdog Healthcheck, Tomorrow's World, and Sky's The Breathing Life Awards...
, Juliet Morris
Juliet Morris
-Early life:Morris was educated at Lady Eleanor Holles School, an independent school for girls in Hampton in West London, where she recalled the difficulties of being left-handed. At the age of eleven, she moved to a convent when her family settled in Devon...
, Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy , is a British television presenter and journalist employed by Channel 4. He presents the Channel 4 Evening News and the foreign affairs programme Unreported World.-Education:...
, Julie Etchingham
Julie Etchingham
Julie Etchingham is an English television newsreader and journalist. She is currently co-presenter of ITV News at Ten and is the presenter of the current affairs programme Tonight, having replaced Sir Trevor McDonald....
, Chris Rogers, Kate Sanderson, Matthew Price
Matthew Price
Matthew Price is a British journalist who currently works as Europe correspondent for the BBC.-Education:Price was educated at St Catharine's College at the University of Cambridge, gaining a First Class degree in Geography....
, and Becky Jago
Becky Jago
Becky Jago is a British television news presenter, currently employed by ITV Anglia....
. Regular reporters on the programme, who have also presented it, include Paul McDowell, Paul Welsh
Paul Welsh
Paul Welsh is a British television and radio correspondent and presenter. He was born in England in 1961, but moved frequently because his father was a serving member of the RAF. His family lived in England, Germany, Singapore, Scotland and Cyprus...
, Lizo Mzimba
Lizo Mzimba
Lizo Mzimba is the Entertainment Correspondent for BBC News.-Early life:He attended the independent Solihull School and The University of Birmingham...
and Terry Baddoo
Terry Baddoo
Terry Baddoo is a television sports presenter. He is half English and half Ghanaian, and comes from a theatrical family.-Biography:Baddoo was born in London, England, and earned a Bachelors degree in Education from London University...
.
The distinctive opening theme used for the first fifteen years of the programme was not composed especially for it, but is instead the opening eight bars of a 1968 cover of Johnny One Note
Johnny One Note
"Johnny One Note" is a 1937 show tune from the 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical Babes in Arms, where it was introduced by Wynn Murrary. Judy Garland sang it in the film version, released in 1939.-Notable recordings:...
by Ted Heath and his Music
Ted Heath (bandleader)
Ted Heath, musician and big band leader, led Britain's greatest post-war big band recording more than 100 albums and selling over 20 million records...
. The closing sting used the last couple of bars of New Worlds by John Baker, recorded by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
BBC Radiophonic Workshop
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the sound effects units of the BBC, was created in 1958 to produce effects and new music for radio, and was closed in March 1998, although much of its traditional work had already been outsourced by 1995. It was based in the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in Delaware...
.
Newsround was the first British television programme to break the news of the loss
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
of the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
on 28 January 1986. As the event was shown during the opening titles, it is often erroneously stated that the tragedy happened live on air, but it in fact happened about fifteen minutes earlier. This edition was presented by Roger Finn, who had only recently joined the programme.
The programme was also first in Britain to report an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II
1981 Pope John Paul II assassination attempt
The first attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II took place on Wednesday, May 13, 1981, in St. Peter's Square at Vatican City. The Pope was shot and critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck 4 times, and suffered severe blood loss. Ağca was...
in Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
in 1981 and provided the first reports from the Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
fire of November 1992.
In February 2002, Newsround expanded from a sole ten-minute programme on weeknights to through-the-day bulletins seven days a week to tie-in with the launch of the CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
. In 2009, a small bureau for the programme was opened at the BBC's former Manchester studios
New Broadcasting House
New Broadcasting House is the home of the BBC on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre. The studios house BBC Manchester, BBC North, BBC North West, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Religion and Ethics department...
. As part of the relocation of the BBC Children's Department, Newsround began broadcasting from new studios at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays
Salford Quays
Salford Quays is an area of Salford in Greater Manchester, England, near the end of the Manchester Ship Canal. Previously the site of Manchester Docks, it became one of the first and largest urban regeneration projects in the United Kingdom following the closure of the dockyards in...
on Monday 21 November 2011.
On air
On weekdays, a two-minute bulletin airs at the start of the CBBC ChannelCBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
's transmission at 7am. One-minute bulletins are broadcast on BBC Two at 7:25am. Five-minute bulletins air on the CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
at 8:25am and 6:25pm. Recently, Newsround introduced a number of short 60 second bulletins in addition to the other digital updates, shown at 3.25pm, 4.25pm and 5.45pm on the CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
.
The main ten-minute edition of Newsround airs on BBC One at 5:05pm.
Bulletins are also broadcast on the CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
during the morning on weekend.
Presenters
Presenters- Ore Oduba
- Ricky Boleto
- Leah Gooding
- Hayley Cutts
- Joe Tidy
- John Watson
Newsround Specials
A variation on the regular format of Newsround is a series of short (typically 15-minute) documentary films, previously broadcast under the title Newsround Extra but now called "specials", which have been a regular feature since the late 1970s. Two or three series of these documentaries air during the year, which replace the regular bulletins on one day of the week (for Extras it was usually Monday, although sometimes on Fridays, particularly during the 1980s).Newsround Specials in recent years have included:
- The Wrong Trainers: a series of six animated films dealing with child povertyChild povertyChild poverty refers to the phenomenon of children living in poverty. This applies to children that come from poor families or orphans being raised with limited, or in some cases absent, state resources. Children that fail to meet the minimum acceptable standard of life for the nation where that...
. The programme won the 2006 Royal Television Society award for best children's programme and the 2007 BAFTA children's award for best factual programme. - The Worst Thing Ever: a dramatised documentary revolving around a child's experience of their parents' divorce.
- Newsround on Knives: an animated look at knife crime from a child's point of view.
- Gone: interviews with four bereaved children.
- Whose Side Are You On?: a drama on the role of bystanders in tackling bullying featuring Joe CalzagheJoe CalzagheJoseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
, Aston MerrygoldAston MerrygoldAston Iain Merrygold is a singer with boy band JLS who were the runner ups to Alexandra Burke on the fifth series of The X Factor in the United Kingdom in 2008.-Early life:...
, Patsy PalmerPatsy PalmerPatsy Palmer is an English actress. Palmer made an early television appearance on the children's drama show Grange Hill, but is best known for playing Bianca Jackson in the popular British television soap opera EastEnders. Originally in the cast from 1993–1999, Palmer returned to EastEnders in...
, George SampsonGeorge SampsonGeorge Jennifer Sampson is a street dancer and actor from Warrington, England. He won the second series of Britain's Got Talent on 31 May 2008 at the age of 14.-2007 series:...
and Gemma HuntGemma HuntGemma Hunt is a CBBC presenter who also used to be on the TV series Xchange.-CBBC:Gemma joined the CBBC continuity team in 2002, since then she has presented on the CBBC Channel and also on BBC One and BBC Two. In 2004 she was noticed by CBBC series Xchange and later became a presenter until its...
. - Caught in the Web: a dramatised documentary on Internet safety featuring case studies from real children, narrated by David TennantDavid TennantDavid Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
and nominated for a BAFTA in October 2010. - Living with Alcohol: a special about children's experiences with alcohol, presented by Barney Harwood.
- "Ricky Investigates": a six-part investigative series which began on 28 September 2010
A one-off Newsround Investigates documentary on arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
in schools was broadcast in May 2006.
Newsround Showbiz
A light-hearted entertainment news round-up, originally known as Newsround Lite and introduced as part of the CBBC ChannelCBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
's launch in February 2002. The latter version of the show was hosted by regular Newsround presenters/reporters Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, Adam Fleming
Adam Fleming
Adam Fleming is a Scottish news reporter, best known for his work on CBBC's news programme, Newsround. He also reports for Sportsround and has recently begun appearing as a political correspondent for BBC News.-Early life and career:...
, Rachel Horne and Thalia Pellegrini
Thalia Pellegrini
Thalia Pellegrini is a British television presenter.She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in English studies. She presents programmes including CBBC's Newsround, Short Change, Fast Track and has reported for the BBC's Holiday programme. She moved to Sheffield in 2005 where...
, and produced by Sinéad Rocks. The programme was axed in 2005.
Sportsround
A Saturday morning sports magazine show introduced in September 2005, it was cancelled in December 2010 and replaced by Match of the Day KickaboutMatch of the Day Kickabout
Match of the Day Kickabout is a British children's television football programme broadcast on CBBC. It is presented by Ore Oduba and is a spin-off from the long running weekly Match of the Day...
. In 2010 it was presented by Ore Oduba with reporters Des Clarke and Jon Franks.
Newsround Review of the Year
Until 2006, a half-hour review of the year special was produced for broadcast during the Christmas/New Year period.Former presenters/reporters
- John Craven (April 1972 - June 1989)
- Lucy MathenLucy MathenLucy Mathen is an Indian-born British ophthalmologist and former journalist. Having initially worked for the BBC, she retrained as a doctor and launched Second Sight – a non-profit organisation aimed at curing cataract blindness in India....
(1976–1980) Mathen was the very first dedicated reporter for John Craven's Newsround and the first female British Asian reporter to appear on a nationwide BBC Television news programme. She co-presented "Newsround Africa" with John Craven. She then left to live in the USA for three years. In 1989 she left journalism to retrain as an ophthalmologist. - Paul McDowell (1979? - 1985)
- Roger FinnRoger FinnRoger Finn is a British television presenter. Finn was born Roger Armstrong-Wright but is believed to have taken the Stage name Finn from his favourite book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. He spent much of his upbringing in Hong Kong, but boarded in England at The King's School...
(1985–1991) - Howard StablefordHoward StablefordHoward Stableford is a television and radio presenter.Howard grew up in Preston, Lancashire, the son of a business skills lecturer and a shipping agent. He attended Hutton Grammar School...
(1984) - Helen RollasonHelen RollasonHelen Frances Rollason MBE was a British sports journalist and television presenter.-Early life:Born 11 March 1956, Helen Rollason was an adopted child. She was born in London, grew up in Bath and studied at Chelsea School of Physical Education, Eastbourne and Dalhousie University, in Canada...
(1986–1990) - Juliet MorrisJuliet Morris-Early life:Morris was educated at Lady Eleanor Holles School, an independent school for girls in Hampton in West London, where she recalled the difficulties of being left-handed. At the age of eleven, she moved to a convent when her family settled in Devon...
(1990 - October 1994) - Krishnan Guru-MurthyKrishnan Guru-MurthyKrishnan Guru-Murthy , is a British television presenter and journalist employed by Channel 4. He presents the Channel 4 Evening News and the foreign affairs programme Unreported World.-Education:...
(1991 - October 1994) - Julie EtchinghamJulie EtchinghamJulie Etchingham is an English television newsreader and journalist. She is currently co-presenter of ITV News at Ten and is the presenter of the current affairs programme Tonight, having replaced Sir Trevor McDonald....
(October 1994 - February 1998) - Chris Rogers (October 1994 - 1999)
- Kate Sanderson (July 1997 - September 2001)
- Matthew PriceMatthew PriceMatthew Price is a British journalist who currently works as Europe correspondent for the BBC.-Education:Price was educated at St Catharine's College at the University of Cambridge, gaining a First Class degree in Geography....
(1999–2002) - Becky JagoBecky JagoBecky Jago is a British television news presenter, currently employed by ITV Anglia....
(September 2001 - February 2003)
- Rachel Horne (December 2002 - April 2006)
- Thalia PellegriniThalia PellegriniThalia Pellegrini is a British television presenter.She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in English studies. She presents programmes including CBBC's Newsround, Short Change, Fast Track and has reported for the BBC's Holiday programme. She moved to Sheffield in 2005 where...
(October 2003 - September 2007) - Lizo MzimbaLizo MzimbaLizo Mzimba is the Entertainment Correspondent for BBC News.-Early life:He attended the independent Solihull School and The University of Birmingham...
(1998 - May 2008) - Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes (December 2001 - August 2008)
- Laura JonesLaura Jones (journalist)Laura Jones is a British television journalist who is best known for her work on the popular children's television programme Newsround.She was born in Aberystwyth, Wales, but spent most of her childhood in Lampeter, also in Wales...
(December 2002 - 15 August 2008) - Ellie CrisellEllie CrisellEllie Crisell is an English journalist and television presenter. Crisell currently works on the BBC's 8pm news summary, and as a relief presenter on the BBC News Channel...
(February 2003- October 2008) - Jake HumphreyJake HumphreyJacob John "Jake" Humphrey is an English television presenter, currently best known for his work with BBC Sport, being the youngest ever presenter to host Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score. He currently presents the BBC's Formula One coverage and BBC Sports Personality of the Year...
(10 September 2005 - 27 August 2008) - Helen SkeltonHelen SkeltonHelen Skelton is an English television presenter. She has worked on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter since 2008...
(November 2007 - July 2008) - Adam FlemingAdam FlemingAdam Fleming is a Scottish news reporter, best known for his work on CBBC's news programme, Newsround. He also reports for Sportsround and has recently begun appearing as a political correspondent for BBC News.-Early life and career:...
(February 2002 - July 2009) - Maddy Savage (August 2008 - August 2009)
- Gavin RamjaunGavin RamjaunGavin Ramjaun is a news correspondent on ITV's Daybreak and formerly a presenter on BBC News, Sport and Newsround, a children's news programme.Gavin is also a keen film fanatic and names 'Jeepers Creepers' as his favourite title....
(September 2007 - September 2009) - Sonali Shah (April 2006 - November 2011)
External links
- Newsround at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
/cbbc - Newsround Message Boards at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
/cbbc - BBC Editors' blog - Simon Goretzki
- BBC Editors' blog - former editor Sinéad Rocks
- BBC Editors' blog - former editor Tim Levell
- Newsround blog
- Newsround History
- British Film Institute Screen Online