As a parent I am both thrilled and scared by how much information my children are exposed to in today’s world. They are completely tuned into everything that is happening around the world. They might not understand the geopolitical implications or political unrests, but say a name from the newspaper today and they are sure to have at least heard of it. From harmless discussions on the playground to learning about current events in school, to night time news watching with the family, children today receive the latest information from sources all around them. So why not put all that to good use?
Dainik Bhaskar and children’s TV channel – ZeeQ are back with their very successful initiative Junior Editor again this year! In its third season, this super fun activity for kids lets them write, edit, illustrate, make ads, and even sketch a daily cartoon for an entire newspaper!
Image Source:Â www.esselnewsletter.com
In an effort to make children aware of news and happenings around the country and the world and to build readership among the younger population of the country, Dainik Bhaskar has launched an initiative that puts the onus of newspaper making and essentially content creation right in the hands of children.
How It Works:
- Chosen participants will be given a blank newspaper template kit that will be essentially be 12 blank pages for them to fill
- The instructions will be in four languages – Hindi, Marathi, English, and Gujarati to make sure more children from across the country participate.
- Participants will be organised into four categories depending on their age.
- Children are encouraged to think out of the box and write about anything they perceive as news worthy. The aim is to understand the social, political, and economic climate of the country through the eyes of children.
- As they need to fill the pages of a daily newspaper children are encouraged to look at the world around them and think about daily news and happenings that affect them on a personal level and write about it.
- Previous successful years have seen children write about issues like the 3G scam, the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks etc.
- Each page of the template kit contains detailed instruction on what needs to be covered on that page. For example, the front page has to have a written account of two major happenings in the country.
Entries for the best newspaper will be chosen from around the country to compete in an exciting set of awards that include ‘Best Story’, ‘Best Reporting’, ‘Best Editorial’, etc. As a national level competition this super creative event has also been added to the Guinness and Limca Book of Records.
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Janani S Koushik
The Gateway School Of Mumbai
