Media Release: Axing of “Behind the News” disastrous for children

Jane Roberts, President of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, trading as Young Media Australia (YMA), today deplored the axing of the ABC’s educational program Behind the News (BTN) stating that the program played a vital role for children and families in educating children about world events without causing distress.

Ms Roberts stated: “Callers to our Young Media Australia Helpline keep telling us that children are being traumatised by exposure to TV News programs produced for an adult audience. BTN has for many years been relied on by teachers and parents as an alternative way of helping children to learn about world events, keeping in mind that they do not yet have the maturity to deal with news items as shown on mainstream news programs.”

Elizabeth Handsley, YMA’s Vice President, also expressed her dismay. “My nine year old daughter looks forward to watching BTN every week. She comes home from school keen to talk about it and it gives us the ideal opportunity to discuss world events with her in a reassuring context. News and current affairs programs are the flagship of the ABC and BTN, as the only news program for Australian children, should have been preserved—without it there is no other print, television or radio program that caters for the needs of young children. The program has been highly regarded by parents, educators and children’s professionals for over 30 years.”

YMA is committed to promoting better choices and providing stronger voices in children’s media. It is Australia’s only national advocacy organisation representing the interests of children and young people in relation to print, electronic and screen-based media, and provides a valuable resource for legislators, regulators and the media. The Young Media Australia Helpline (1800 700 357), which recently celebrated one year of operation, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for parents and caregivers who wish to discuss any aspect of the impact of the media on children.

For more information or to arrange an interview,
please call Jane Roberts (WA) on 0410 509 685, or
Elizabeth Handsley (SA) on 08 8201 5256