Comparison of News Programs for Kids

The two main television news programs used in classrooms are Channel One and CNN Newsroom. Channel One is 12 minutes long; up to 2 minutes may be devoted to commercials. CNN Newsroom is 15 minutes long with no commercial interruptions, giving it up to 50 percent more "news time" than Channel One. Here is a synopsis of the two programs for the week of April 4-8, 1994:

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CHANNEL ONE (WITH COMMERCIALS)

CNN NEWSROOM (NO COMMERCIALS)

MONDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:40 "Special Edition" reports on the Whitewater controversy.
05:05 Ad for CareFree bubble gum
05:20 Ad for Clearasil
05:35 Ad for CareFree bubble gum
05:50 Whitewater report resumes
09:40 Ad for Pepsi
10:15 Wrap-up of Whitewater report
12:00 End

MONDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:45 News: Israeli troops begin withdrawal from
West Bank
04:05 Feature: Today in history
04:35 News: anniversary of Martin Luther King
assassination
05:20 Feature: evolution of recorded music
06:05 Feature: Rock music via computers and modems
08:45 News: baseball season opens
09:30 Part 1: 125th anniversary of American baseball
13:30 Anchors chat
15:00 End

TUESDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:30 News: "Roller coaster" stock market;
the economy.
02:10 Ad for Reebok
02:40 Ad for Doublemint gum
03:10 Part 1: Drinking and driving
07:40 Ad to recruit new teachers
08:10 Ad for Secret deodorant
08:40 Feature: Pop quiz (drinking and driving)
10:45 News: women's and men's basketball tournament
12:00 End

TUESDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:45 News: Turmoil in financial markets; risk of inflation
05:00 Headlines: Mexican assassination follow-up
05:30 Feature: Where in the world? (Chile)
06:30 Feature: Chile's fast-growing economy
09:00 News: Throwing out the first pitch
09:45 Part 2: Baseball history
13:30 Anchors chat
15:00 End

WEDNESDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:20 News brief: Blackmun ready to announce retirement from Supreme Court
00:40 News: Crime bill, "three strikes and you're out"
05:10 Ad for Scope mouthwash
05:40 Ad for Snickers candy bar
06:10 Feature: Pop quiz (recidivism)
07:30 Ad for Rold Gold pretzels
08:00 Anti-drug ad
08:30 Part 2: Drinking and driving
12:00 End

WEDNESDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:45 News: Mexican assassination conspiracy?
03:30 Headlines (Blackmun retires, stock market rebounds)
04:15 Feature: The Philippines (recent history, growth of car industry)
08:30 Feature: Can baseball players be heroes?
09:00 Part 3: Baseball history
12:45 Feature: Today in history
13:15 News/promo: Shuttle launch Friday, CNN live coverage
13:45 Anchors chat
15:00 End

THURSDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:35 Blackmun retirement and reactions thereto: Roe v. Wade, pro-life spokeswoman; importance of appointments to Supreme Court
04:25 Ad for Pepsi
05:25 Part 3: Drinking and driving
09:40 Feature: Pop quiz (on drinking and driving)
10:15 Ad for Doritos chips
11:15 Answers to Pop quiz
12:00 End

THURSDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:45 News: crash kills presidents of Rwanda, Burundi
04:45 Feature: Blackmun legacy
05:30 Background: Impact of Blackmun retirement (Why should young people be interested?)
08:00 Feature: What is a gene?
08:30 Science feature: "sweet tooth" gene discovered
10:45 Feature: Baseball bats being made (for collectors)
11:05 Part 4: Baseball history
14:25 Anchors chat
15:00 End

FRIDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:30 News: Teamsters strike, labor relations
04:40 Ad for Mountain Dew
05:10 Ad for Crest toothpaste
05:40 Part 4: Drinking and driving
09:30 Feature: Pop quiz (What Teamsters 'president disappeared?)
10:00 Anti-drug ad
10:30 Ad for Noxzema
11:00 Answer to Pop quiz (Jimmy Hoffa)
12:15 End

FRIDAY
00:00 Opening credits
00:45 News: Mideast terrorism
03:25 News: South African leaders meet
03:55 Review of week's news
06:40 Preview: Next week's feature on "Living with AIDS"
07:10 Feature: Men's ties in or out of fashion?
09:40 Feature: Today in history
10:00 Part 5: Baseball history
14:05 Anchors chat
15;00 End