What are its aims?

Learn the News aims to promote general knowledge. So many children are caught up in social media and they are unaware of the world around them. Global trends and patterns shape the way our society functions and introducing children to news stories at a young age will encourage them to develop an interest in current affairs.

Who is the target audience?

It was developed mainly for children in upper primary school and lower high school. But standards vary so much, both within and between countries and communities that it’s difficult to pinpoint. For some teachers it has been a valuable asset in remedial classes, and on the other hand it’s popular among children in lower grades who need a bit extra to do because they are ahead of the pack.

Is news suitable for children?

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Learn the News omits the typical sensationalism and horror one reads in the mainstream media but covers important issues by finding sensitively-selected story angles with which to introduce them.

What makes it appealing?

The stories in Learn the News are REAL. Also, many topics in the news coincide with what is taught in Geography and History.  The fact that it is easy to read and has a glossary to help makes it an effective tool for library and English lessons. Then, quizzes can be fun.

How is Learn the News distributed?

Learn the News is emailed to subscribers every Tuesday. However, production takes a break over the months of July and December as well as over Easter Weekend.

How did it start?

Journalist Duncan Guy started it for his son, Owen, when he was in Grade Two and hasn’t been able to stop. Owen is now at university. The idea was to get his son interested in the news that was happening in an educational and accessible way.