Kids News Network (KNN)

One of the first KNN programmes to be developed was "Ayenda Sazan" ("Future Makers"). Editor's note (August 2009): This effort had to be put on hold. Its goal was to broadcast the news "in understandable language without scary images" on Radio Television Afghanistan. Sports were often used as a tool to explain difficult topics in a playful way; for instance, children who are disabled due to landmines were portrayed in one broadcast not as victims, but as victors - organising their own basketball game for kids in wheelchairs. A young team of professional journalists, led by a young woman, in Kabul created the programme, which was designed to give children a voice by inviting them to freely express their own opinions. The journalists travelled from Kabul all over the country to interview children about the topics they considered to be interesting news. The half-hour show was broadcast 3 times a week in 2 Afghan languages, Dari and Pashto.

To cite another example, "Cerita Anak" ("Children's Story") is broadcast on the second largest commercial station in Indonesia, Trans TV. According to Free Voice, "Cerita Anak gives Indonesian children a voice on TV and online. It helps and empowers young Indonesians, with news topics such as the child help lines and what to do during an earthquake. Children learn about their own rights and share their opinions on the online forum."

Other KNN projects draw on multiple media, as illustrated by the above examples and by "No Apto Para Adultos" [NAPA] ("Not For Adults"), which is broadcast weekly on the network RED TV and the internet and reaches an estimated 3 million viewers. The NAPA website has many streaming videos, a poll, and a chat. NAPA also has its own youtube channel. Similarly, KNN's 10-minute programme called "Youth Voice" may be watched via satellite in Burma and worldwide via the website and their youtube channel. After 2 months of workshops conducted by experienced editors from the Indonesian, South African, and Dutch youth news programmes, 8 Burmese journalists explore serious topics such as child labour, as well as "fun" news stories. The editors work from Thailand, where an estimated 1.5 million Burmese refugees live. In Burma, underground camera journalists interview children; to ensure the safety of the children and the DVB journalists, the children wear a mask in front of the camera.

In 2009, organisers launched a project in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba called Caribbean Kids News; it is slated to go on air on September 1 2009. The website can be visited here.

A new kids news service went on air in Mozambique in November 2009 with Soico TV.

In June 2010, KNN launched a website called World Kids News (WKN), which aims to feature "the best" kids news reports from around the world, presented every month.

Regular KNN updates can be accessed here.

KNN's YouTube channel is here.

Children, Youth.

Free Voice "enhances press freedom in developing countries by supporting a diverse, independent and skilled press. The foundation strives to support the development of a critical journalistic culture and independent sources of information, which it considers to be crucial for emancipation and opinion forming."

In 2008, the Peruvian NAPA was designated by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as a regional winner of the International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Awards. "According to UNICEF this youth news program proves it can give children and youth a real voice, in a creative way."