Developing any news program today is about as dangerous as that barrel gambit over Niagara Falls. However objective you may think your news program is, you will always have people claiming it's "fake news" or it doesn't sufficiently worship at the feet of self-proclaimed and self-deputized culture warriors.
News for children is even more of a long shot for success. We have parents at school board meetings screaming about curriculum that isn't taught in their schools, but their Facebook group claims it is. Or books like "The Diary of Anne Frank" banned in parts of Florida and Texas because --. Who knows why?
That’s why The Ten News podcast is simply so good. It is terrific children’s programming. This is how The Ten News describes their podcast: “The Ten News podcast explores topics that kids care about most, including events, sports, science, gaming, pop culture, entertainment, and more! With new episodes every Wednesday, it’s a great way for you and your family to stay connected with what’s going on in the world.”
The Ten News was a Common Sense Selection, which is a part of Common Sense Media’s seal program that recognizes podcasts for engaging stories, valuable content, diverse voices, characters, and messages that are a great choice for kids & families.
In its first two seasons, the podcast produced and released an amazing 129 episodes. In those two seasons, the podcast has welcomed notable guests such as LEGO Masters Judge Amy Corbett, America’s top doctor Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Sarah Natochenny, the voice of Ash Ketchum for Pokémon fans.
The Ten News podcast is deep into its third season with a brand-new logo, format, and co-hosts. The Ten News delivers quality news content to kids 8–12. The third season started with a back-to-school special and a helpful explainer of the terms used during Hispanic Heritage Month. Do you know why Hispanic Heritage Month starts on the 15th rather than the first?
I didn’t. Well, tune into the episode to find out.
One of the podcast's best features is Ten Things You Need To Know. In those episodes, which last about seven minutes, ten kid-appropriate news items are covered.
On March 28th, for example, the ten news items ranged from West Coast wild weather continues to world baseball champs, and from TikTok troubles to a major disaster in Mississippi.
The mad scientist for The Ten News is Tracy Leeds Kaplan, who founded Small But Mighty Media, which is a development and production agency focused on creating non-fiction audio and video programs that inform and inspire audiences of all ages. Small But Mighty Media aims to address underserved audiences with bespoke content and tell stories that need to be told. It’s an admirable goal, and she and her team are passionate about achieving it.
With strong production values, great writing, and a finely tuned narrative style for its ages 8–12-year-old target audience, The Ten News doesn’t miss a beat. But it’s the co-hosts that truly excel at connecting with their audience.
Ryan Willard is an award-winning filmmaker and writer based in NYC. A fellow of the Sesame Street Writers’ Room in 2019, wrote for their upcoming animated series, Bea’s Block, and was proud to help bring Ji-Young, Sesame’s first Asian Muppet, to the screen. In his free time, Ryan enjoys hosting professional table tennis events, and MC’d the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships.
Pamela Kirkland is an award-winning journalist based in Atlanta. As a field producer for CNN, she’s covered breaking news events around the country, ranging from hurricanes to elections. Before that, Pamela worked for The PBS NewsHour, reporting on stories looking at the opioid crisis, immigration, education, and more. She’s traveled the country covering four presidential campaigns, Congress, and the White House.
The co-hosts have chemistry that seems developed in a lab because it’s so good. Willard can be silly like an eight-year-old child and still deliver relevant information. Kirkland balances journalistic heft with juvenile attitude, which plays perfectly for the audience.
The podcast also has an experienced cadre of correspondents, ranging from a romance novelist to a human rights activist. It’s an eclectic group that talks “kid” like pros.
In today’s culture war society, parents seem hyper-vigilant on what information their children are exposed to. The Ten News is a suitable format and venue for children 8–12 regardless of parents’ political beliefs.
Check out The Ten News podcast. Your child will thank you. And you, Mom and Dad, should listen, too. It’s fun, and even you can learn.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank You for your input and feedback. If you requested a response, we will do so as soon as possible.