Watch out, seasoned TV reporters and anchors. Here come the children of the Scrappy News Service
Pre-teens choose their subjects, report on them, and create their own news videos.
“Hello and welcome to the Children’s Scrappy News Service,” rings out the voice of a 10-year-old reporter. An initiative by the Delhi- based NGO Going To School has set pre-teens to report on and broadcast local news – from newsrooms built completely out of scrap. These are the 2000-strong young anchors and reporters of the Children’s Scrappy News Service.
They define themselves as a “global revolution made in India”, and have been making news videos (like the one above) and hosting them on YouTube with the aim of reporting on things that matter to them (and to adults as well). Not only is the reportage strong, but the children also use critical thinking to design solutions to help facilitate change. And all of this takes place during each episode.
Each episode takes the shape of a news-talk-game show, with the reporter-anchors bringing up issues ranging from sanitation and the weather to waste segregation and global warming. Across Bengaluru, Mumbai and 14 locations in Bihar, the young guns sometimes also invite guests like electricians, plumbers, carpenters and even their own parents to talk about the world.
You can watch more of their views below and here.