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Press Releases
Prime Minister and political party leaders to be quizzed by children for 91Èȱ¬ School Report News Day
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Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative leader David Cameron, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones are all being interviewed by schoolchildren taking part in a new 91Èȱ¬ initiative where children get to make broadcast news for themselves.
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These political party leaders are used to tough questioning from opposition parties and the press. They will now face the new challenge of answering questions devised and put to them by 12 and 13 year-old schoolchildren taking part in 91Èȱ¬ School Report News Day on Thursday 22 March 2007.
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Children from more than 100 schools around the UK will be making their own news stories and broadcasting them via the internet as part of 91Èȱ¬ News School Report – a pioneering pan-91Èȱ¬ News project helping to support citizenship and English lessons in schools by teaching pupils about News production.
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There will be coverage of the schools' reports throughout the day on 91Èȱ¬ Breakfast, 91Èȱ¬ News 24, Newsround, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Five Live, regional television and all 91Èȱ¬ local radio stations.
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There will also be a special all-day online webcast on the 91Èȱ¬ News website showcasing some of the news reports schools have made.
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Huw Edwards - presenter of the Ten O'Clock News on 91Èȱ¬ One and 91Èȱ¬ News 24 and the Five O'Clock News on 91Èȱ¬ News 24 - fronts a range of online films and journalism guides designed by the 91Èȱ¬ to help pupils and teachers get the most out of the experience.
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An ex-teacher himself, he was interviewed by pupils at Paddington Academy preparing to take part in 91Èȱ¬ School Report News Day.
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He says: "When you look at what young people are able to achieve with this kind of exercise, School Report actually allows them to develop new skills; literacy, editorial and all kinds of new approaches – whether it's TV or radio.
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"To teachers and adults I'd say any exercise that allows young people to develop these tricky skills in a fun, challenging environment has got to be worth it and for me that's the glory of 91Èȱ¬ News School Report."
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Newsround and 91Èȱ¬ News 24's Ellie Crisell will host the online webcast – which will run for the length of a normal school day – providing hourly live updates.
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The dedicated pages on the 91Èȱ¬ News website will also link to the websites of all the schools taking part.
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Helen Shreeve, Editor of 91Èȱ¬ News School Report, said: "Our aim is to get 12 and 13-year-olds interested in the news but we're also getting great feedback on the educational value of learning about broadcast journalism in the classroom.
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"Teachers tell us it improves literacy skills, develops critical thinking and can even combat bullying."
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Go to bbc.co.uk/schoolreport for more information.
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Notes to Editors
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Schools can enrol now to take part in 91Èȱ¬ News School Report 2007/08.
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In September 2006, the 91Èȱ¬ announced its pilot initiative 91Èȱ¬ News School Report, which gives 12 and 13-year-olds around the UK the chance to make their own news at school and to broadcast it via the internet.
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Pupils and teachers will be taking part in practical exercises – including writing news stories, reading the headlines and recording interviews.
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