In the News

Synopsis

In the News is a series of two-minute televised video segments that summarized topical news stories for children and pre-teens. The segments were broadcast in the United States on the CBS television network from 1971 until 1986, between Saturday morning animated cartoon programs, alongside features like Schoolhouse Rock and One to Grow On, which aired on competing networks ABC and NBC, respectively. NBC would also go on to produce its own competing version called Ask NBC News. The "micro-series" had its genesis in a series of animated interstitials produced by CBS and Hanna Barbera Productions called In The Know, featuring Josie and the Pussycats narrating educational news segments tailored for children. This was eventually metamorphosed into a more live-action-oriented micro-series produced solely by CBS' news division. In the News segments attempted to explain the essence of complex news stories to children, and to do so in a way that might engage a young audience. Video clips of national or world events and special-interest stories were shown with voice-over narration specifically written with children in mind. Although news stories deemed to be inappropriate for children were not covered on In the News, the series did feature a wide range of then-current events.