TV news for children, by children
UNICEF volunteer reporters produce their own news programme in Montenegro
In the context of the media literacy campaign "Let's Choose What We Watch", organized with the support of UNICEF and the Agency for Electronic Media of Montenegro, Channel One of the public broadcaster Television Montenegro (TVCG) launched the first TV programme for children and young people in Montenegro using the internationally known Wadada News for Kids format.
The Montenegrin edition of TV news for children and young people, "Wadada Montenegro," is created by UNICEF volunteer young reporters from the media literacy campaign "Let's Choose What We Watch" with the assistance of professionals from TVCG.
The format gives young people the opportunity to participate in all stages of production, including selecting and editing news stories they believe are of interest to their peers. The final product is the only media programme of its kind being offered in the local language for children and young people in Montenegro.
The UNICEF volunteer reporters put forward the topics they are interested in and consider as being important. They identify subjects for interviews. Topics highlighted so far include child marriage, online violence, volunteering and gender equality.
Reporter Matija Sekulić interviews one of his peers as part of a survey on how much time young people in Montenegro spend on social networks.
Once the interviews are recorded, the young reporters review the raw footage and select the portions to be edited for airing on the Wadada News programme.
The reporters edit their stories themselves, which they consider to be one of the most interesting but also most important parts of production, because it allows them to be creative in telling a story.
In the Wadada News programme, there is a special format – the “Teen Report” – through which young people record interesting events with their mobile phones, creating their own short accounts of such events. Many local sports and cultural events have so far been covered by this format.
Reporter Arsenije Aleksa Mraković works on the shot-list and script for his report.
The young reporters believe that participating in news production helps them to gain new experiences, make acquaintances, and master new skills. The experience also helps them better understand the topics which national media usually cover with an older audience in mind.
The reporters say that they have noticed their peers speaking to them more candidly about those topics that are worrying or motivating them.
A survey of children, parents and the media conducted by UNICEF last year as part of a media literacy campaign revealed that less than one-third of parents (29%) and children (27%) believe there are a sufficient number of programmes on Montenegrin TV channels for different ages of children, as well as content that is interesting, useful, inspiring and educational for children. Most parents surveyed (59%) said that they find it important for their children to watch TV programmes that involve children of the same age as theirs. Children are also interested in watching TV content involving children of their own age. This is what Wadada News Montenegro offers – a TV news programme that children and young people are producing for their peers.
About Wadada News Montenegro
Wadada News Montenegro was launched within the “Let’s choose what we watch” media literacy campaign,” organized with the support of UNICEF and the Agency for Electronic Media of Montenegro, and Channel One of the public broadcaster Television Montenegro (TVCG).
Wadada News Montenegro is part of the International Wadada News for Kids network, established in collaboration with media in various countries around the globe by the Dutch non-profit organization Free Press Unlimited.
The Montenegrin edition of Wadada News is available as part of an international video library which can be accessed by all member countries of this network.
