Hear from First News Editor in Chief Nicky Cox MBE on why reputable and trustworthy news for children is more important now than ever before.

Dear teachers, parents and carers,

As First News, the UK’s only newspaper for children, celebrates its 18th birthday, I find myself reflecting on its importance to today’s children.

I was founding editor of First News back in 2006 and, over the years, I have had a front row view of how our changing world impacts children. What I have learned is that childhood lasts a lifetime.

Childhood, though fleeting in its physical presence, casts a perpetual shadow upon our journey through life. Its influence echoes in the decisions we make, the relationships we foster, as well as the beliefs and values we hold on to all our lives. Childhood shapes the contours of our identity and guides the trajectory of our lifetime.

Childhood is also a crucible of learning and growth. It is as children that we first encounter the complexities of the world, grappling with the myriad wonders and challenges it presents. Every experience shapes our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

But the ground underfoot does not feel as stable as it once was.

Eighteen years ago, First News was a “nice to have” newspaper helping children to make sense of the news and the world in which they were growing up. But, in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, it has become a “need to have”. The importance of ensuring that children have access to news they can trust, curated especially for them, cannot be overstated.

Without access to reliable and age-appropriate news, children are vulnerable to misinformation, propaganda, and biased narratives that can distort their understanding of current events and shape their worldview in harmful ways. This exposure to fake news and misinformation can lead to increased levels of anxiety, stress, and confusion in children as they struggle to distinguish between fact and fiction. This undermines their sense of security and stability in the world around them. So, it is more important than ever to make sure children have somewhere to go for news that is trustworthy, informative, and impartial.

As we approach the upcoming general election, the need for reliable news becomes even more critical. In an era where misinformation and biased reporting can easily sway public opinion, it is essential that children have access to trustworthy sources of information that help them understand the democratic process and the significance of being an engaged citizen.

Through ensuring our young readers are well-informed, we are not only protecting their right to accurate news, but also nurturing future voters who can engage in the electoral process with a clear, unbiased perspective.

Furthermore, it is crucial to amplify children’s voices during this pivotal time. We have launched the First News Children’s Party to ensure that the issues important to children are championed in the election conversation. This initiative aims to make sure that young people’s concerns and aspirations are heard and considered, fostering a generation that values truth, understands the power of their vote, and is prepared to participate in shaping a fair and just society.

First News not only provides this, along with television shows Sky Kids’ FYI and CBBC’s Newsround, it also empowers children to become active participants in their own education and encourages them to ask questions, seek out multiple perspectives, and think critically about the world around them.

These different perspectives help to promote empathy, compassion, and social responsibility in young readers when they read stories that highlight the experiences of diverse individuals and communities. Seeing the world through other people’s eyes gives children a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by others and the importance of working together to address them.

By providing a platform for children to express their opinions and ask questions, we instil in them the knowledge that their voices matter and that they have the power to shape the future. This is the groundwork for a more informed, empathetic, tolerant and inclusive world.

As guardians of the next generation, whether as parents, teachers or carers, we simply cannot leave it to chance what children see and hear while they are growing up, forming opinions and values that are likely to stay with them forever. It is essential that, in line with the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, they get information that is accurate, reliable, and age-appropriate.

I want to thank you for incorporating First News into your child’s daily routine, helping them to foster a lifelong love of the world and their place in it that will stay with them from childhood and throughout their adult lives. Together we can help to cultivate a generation of thoughtful, engaged and joyful young people ready to confront the challenges of their futures with courage, compassion, and resilience, and to realise their dreams.

Warmly,

Nicky