ITN has renewed its contract to produce Discovery Education’s news bulletins for primary school aged children for another five years.
The bulletins are produced by ITN’s news production team who have held the contract with Discovery Education since 2012. They form part of Discovery Education’s ‘Espresso’ digital learning platform for schools, which offers a variety of teacher tools for engaging students in learning, including videos and interactive resources that connect curriculum subjects to current events. Called Espresso News, this tool brings the world’s biggest news stories to thousands of primary school classrooms every day.
ITN news production is one of seven distinct divisions at ITN, providing news footage and TV services for broadcasters, publishers and global video platforms. The team delivers a daily voiced bulletin to primary schools for the start of the school day, as well as a longer form weekly bulletin with studio links delivered in two versions that reflect the national curriculum key stages one and two.
The Espresso News bulletins cover a wide range of topics including climate change, the weather and natural events, fossils, archaeology, as well as PHSE and topical citizenship stories such as politics and migrants.
In 2023 so far, the bulletins have included a World Book Day special, which reflected events taking place in school across the UK; and heard from children about the books they love and why. As well as a signed bulletin to mark British Sign Language week. News stories covered this year have included the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the teachers strikes.
Tami Hoffman, Head of News Production and Archive at ITN said: “I am delighted that ITN will continue to produce the kids bulletins for Discovery Education – it is a product we are proud of. Media literacy has never been more important to support children and young people’s learning as they navigate the online world of mis- and disinformation. The bulletins demonstrate how high quality, impartial journalism can enrich and inform their understanding of the world around them.”
Howard Lewis, Discovery Education’s UK and International Managing Director said: “Espresso News offers powerful opportunities to bring current affairs and world events to pupils of all ages. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with ITN, which brings a world-class news service to thousands of children every day, connecting the learning in the classroom to the world beyond the playground.”
For more information please contact:
Sophie West, Head of strategic communications at ITN – sophie.west@itn.co.uk
Angie Shatford, Discovery Education Comms Lead – angie@inkstream.co.uk
About ITN:
ITN is an independent production company with over 67 years’ experience in public service broadcasting and is renowned for being able to deliver journalism of the highest standard across all output. ITN News Production is one of seven distinct divisions at ITN, providing news footage and TV services for broadcasters, publishers and global video platforms. ITN’s coverage of the Queen’s Funeral was widely syndicated to clients including CNN, ABC, ZDF, Channel Seven Australia and many others. ITN’s other business is made up of – Business, Education, Newsrooms (ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News), Productions, Post Production, and Sport – with output ranging from award-winning factual content for major brands, digital platforms, global streamers including Netflix and Amazon and international broadcasters; a vast live sport operation; award-winning news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5; respected live debate programmes; education programming, shortform content and hybrid events for charities and businesses; while ITN’s 60-edit suite facility supports every facet of video and audio post-production. In addition, the ITN Archive features more than a million video clips of iconic news footage from ITN’s first broadcasts in 1955 to the present day.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in curriculum-aligned digital resources, engaging content, and professional learning for primary and secondary classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating immersive STEM experiences,and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education currently serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources areaccessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with local authorities, academy trusts, schools and like-minded organisations to empower teachers with customised solutions that support the success of all learners.
Contact
Angie Shatford, Press Officer
Email: ashatford@discoveryed.com
