Why Are Two Moms Taking On The News Industry On Behalf Of Families?
By Joann Suen & Sapna Satagopan, Co-founders of Xyza News
It’s no surprise that the news industry is broken. In 2016, one of the most contentious US presidential elections brought about an increased focus on the news—and for good measure — it seemed as if fake news was making more headlines than actual news! But we saw something else brewing as well … an interest in what was happening in the world by a group that’s often ignored by traditional news organizations: youth.
In the last two years alone, two of the largest global protests were organized by youth — some might even argue that today’s youth is one of the most engaged groups in modern history. Engagement, however, doesn’t always mean organizing a million-person protest. It starts with a curiosity that drives young citizens to talk about what’s happening in the world around them.
So, we asked a question: How can we connect youth with news that resonates with them?
This simple question has driven us to ask more questions, test ideas, and build Xyza News, a news source for today’s youth. To ensure that we’re continuing to do what we set out to in the first place, every year we conduct a survey to better understand our young readers and those who support them.
Earlier this year, Xyza surveyed 116 parents to learn more about their news habits, as well as, their views on kids and the news. Combined with on-going conversations with parents, subscribers, educators, and our young readers, these three eye-opening outcomes were uncovered:
- Finding ways to connect youth to the news is difficult for both parents and educators alike.
- Traditional media often laud youth movements but ignore youth and their desire for news that resonates with them.
- Young readers want to connect with the world in thoughtful and meaningful ways that respect their intellect.
Over 90% of the parents surveyed think that learning from the news is important, but more than half have not found a great way to share the news with their children.
Over ninety percent of the parents surveyed believe that learning from the news is important; however, over fifty-five percent say they haven’t found a great way to share the news with their children and only twenty-three percent subscribe to a news source for their children.
While there may be many reasons for this disconnect such as cost and knowledge of youth-friendly news sources, one that is particularly noteworthy is the sheer lack of news sources suitable and available to families. A look at local libraries, bookstores, and schools shows just how few news sources are out there for children.
We often hear from parents about their frustrations with the lack of youth-related news sources, especially when they see that their kids are interested and asking about topics that appear in the news. In fact, eighty-six percent of the parents we surveyed said that they have seen their children get excited about something happening in the news and eighty percent have been surprised at some point by a news-related question that their child has asked about.
Only 16% of parents think that their child’s school spends time talking about the news on a regular basis.
Educators play a critical role in introducing and talking about the news with their students, but they shouldn’t bear the brunt of educating youth about what’s happening in the world.
Time and again, we have heard from educators that they’re interested in using the news as a learning resource in classrooms because news can be a helpful tool in connecting academic concepts to real-world happenings. News can, therefore, be used to drive deeper conversations and learnings among students. However, we’ve also heard that class time is limited, making it difficult for educators to incorporate news into the curriculum.
News, however, is not just an academic pursuit. We’ve heard from both parents and educators that news has the potential to serve as a learning bridge that connects what’s being taught in schools and what’s learned at home. After all, of the parents surveyed, eighty-two percent believe that news should be a habit and not homework.
Parents Want Kid-Friendly News With Context
We asked what parents would prioritize if they could make suggestions about what a children’s news source should include. At the top of the list were kid-friendly content, thought-provoking questions, and news stories that children can relate to. More than half of these parents also wanted a way for their children to share their thoughts on news topics.
That’s no surprise to us as this finding supports what we’ve observed through our Junior Reporter program. We’ve heard from both parents and teachers alike that youth appreciate and thrive when they’re respected and heard. Our Junior Reporters feel a sense of pride when they share their thoughts on gun control or Michelle Obama’s book. Youth also thrive, and are more interested in the news when they have a platform for sharing their thoughts, are a part of a larger conversation, and feel connected to real-world happenings.
In 2017, a Common Sense Media report revealed that over 70% of kids think news makes them feel smart and knowledgeable. Yet kids feel neglected and misrepresented by the news.
As more than a billion teens around the world connect with what’s happening on their planet, we believe that there is ample opportunity for parents, educators, and librarians to find meaningful ways to connect youth to the world through the news.
We’re two women, business school classmates (Go Aggies!), friends, and moms who are taking on the news industry and disrupting what traditional news organizations have deemed the status quo. After all, there’s a powerful and engaged audience that wants information, thrives on engagement, and desires a platform to be heard. The future is looking bright and we have a lot of exciting efforts coming up.
If you’re interested in supporting, chatting, or simply learning more about our initiatives, reach out to us at info@xyzanews.com.
