Friday, 3 October 2008

Newsround: bringing some optimism to the news!

What's your favourite news broadcast? Is it the legitimately satisfying BBC news perhaps? Or maybe you're a conventional rebel and enjoy the illusion of pushing boundaries with a bit of Channel 4 news? If watching ITV entertains you, then no doubt you'll prefer ITV news' stagnant approach, deceptively akin to the BBC yet sluggish and easier on the eye. I'll tell you what's even easier on the eye if you'll permit me to dismiss any viewers of five news or even sky news as frauds. My suggestion may seek to diminish our perspective on the gory glory of reality even further, but seriously - have you ever watched Newsround?
There seems to be an indulgent irony about hearing world events spelt out to you in layman's terms, and the persistent "oh dear" attitude to the continual death and destruction reports is a reassuringly optimistic advance on our grim daily news dose. Admittedly there is an obvious lack of economics, politics and that foreboding finality; the weather - yet these supplements only feed the cynicism running through our veins. Are we deluding ourselves that being well-informed about the world makes us intelligent voters?
It's a shame that the overriding perception of the world is one seeking to destroy all hope; the fleeting relief enjoyed by those sick of the mature layout know that Newsround fills that void for a reason. Lets face it, children of today don't watch it - so why has it survived this long if not to cater for those who aren't bent on sobering their mood? Even if it's just an apparetif to harsh reality, give kids' news a chance why don't you?