By Abdi Ali
Published June 22, 2018
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is set to launch a weekly TV programme for young people in Africa on June 23, 2018.
Aptly titled What’s New? and said to be ‘informative, entertaining and fun programme which will keep young people up to date with what’s happening in the world they live in’, BBC says it is targeting Africans aged 11-16 years.
Nisha Kapur, Commissioning Editor at BBC, says: “What’s New? is for and about young people across Africa. It gives them the chance to find out more about the world in a fresh and energetic way. “
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What’s New? shall include three regular segments:
- Behind the headlines
This segment explores a story which has featured regularly in the news and will fully explain through graphics and films what the story is about - The big interview
This is an interview with a celebrity–or someone who is making the news–in Africa. This includes musicians, artists, authors and many others, and - My Story
This segment gives young people the chance to tell their own stories about their lives, school and what they enjoy doing.
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The programme shall be co-presented by Debula Kemoli and Ben Hunte who, BBC says, are expected to bring their own infectious style to What’s New?
“The programme will be presented from an immersive virtual studio where stories will be brought to life in a fun and engaging way using the latest VR technology,” BBC says in a statement issued by Marina Forsythe.
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BBC says What’s New? will engage younger viewers with events in Africa and the wider world, through specially commissioned features, such as:
- Fake news and Reality Check for Kids
What’s New? will help the audience distinguish between trustworthy news stories and sources, and fake content that is being shared online. We will also expose misleading facts and figures which distort the reporting of a story, and - The Conversation
This regular series will explore topics that children are talking about. What’s New? will get groups of young people talking to each other, focusing on areas that they might find hard to discuss with adults.
BBC says What’s New?, that shall be available through partner stations–KTN (Kenya); NBS (Uganda); LNTV (Liberia); ABS Anambra, TVC, Silverbird Television (Nigeria); One Africa TV (Namibia), SLBC TV (Sierra Leone–shall also be available on YouTube every Saturday from 9:00 GMT.
