Questions for discussionThe History of BTN

1. Discuss the History of BTN story with another student. Share your thoughts with the class. 2. In what year did BTN begin?3. Who was the first presenter on BTN?4. In which decade did we get colour television?5. Which Australian capital city did BTN move to in 1986?6. What animal did presenter Paul Higgins bring into the studio for a BTN story?7. BTN was the first ABC program to have its own website. True or false?8. Complete this sentence. In 2003, the ABC had its _________ cut and decided to cancel

Behind the News. 9. When did BTN start a daily news program for kids?10. What did you learn watching the BTN story?

Check out the BTN 50 th Anniversary Special resource on the Teachers page. Get your class involved in BTN’s Ask A Reporter! This week’s topic is all about BTN. Do the quiz on the BTN website.

50 Years of News1. What was a big news event in the world this year? 2. Who was the first person to set foot on the Moon?3. What was the name of the cyclone that hit Darwin in 1974?

a. Cyclone Tracyb. Cyclone Yasic. Cyclone Larry

4. In what year did the Governor General dismiss an entire government?5. Who was Elvis Presley?6. Complete this sentence. In the 80s the Australian Government returned _________ to its

traditional owners.7. In what Tasmanian town was there a tragic attack in the 90s?8. Who did Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologise to in 2008?9. What is the name of Australia’s first female Prime Minister?10. Which news story had the biggest impact on you this year? Why?

Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.

Behind the Scenes1. Summarise the BTN Behind the Scenes story, using your own words. 2. When putting together a show, BTN looks for stories that are…

a. Trueb. Interestingc. Important

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Episode 155th June 2018

d. All of the above3. Who decides what stories will go on BTN?4. What does the archive team do?5. What might happen on a BTN filming day? Give one example. 6. Why do you think BTN stories involve a lot of dressing up?7. Complete this sentence. Animations on BTN are made by the __________ team.8. What is the role of an editor on BTN?9. What is the name of BTN’s daily news program?10. Illustrate an aspect of the Behind the Scenes story.

Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.

History of Newsgathering1. Before you watch the BTN story, predict what you think it’s about.2. What technology did journalists use before computers?3. How did journalists find information before the internet?4. Describe the 1960s news camera featured in the BTN story. 5. Why did camera people from the 1960s have to be picky about what they filmed?6. Complete this sentence. Back in the 60s the news was filmed on 16 _____________ film.

a. Millimetreb. Centimetrec. Metre

7. What is a splicer?8. How were news graphics made in the 80s? Create your own 80s news graphic.9. Make comparisons between how the news is made now with how it was done in the 1960s. 10. What did this video make you wonder? Discuss as a class.

Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.

Why kids like BTN1. Discuss the BTN story with another student. 2. Complete this sentence. BTN reports the news in a child ____________ way that everyone

can watch.3. Many kids have told their story on BTN. Give one example. 4. On some BTN stories reporters dress up and are a bit silly. How does this help you

understand a topic or issue?5. What do you like about BTN? 6. What’s one of your favourite BTN stories? Share your thoughts with the class.7. If you were a rookie reporter on BTN what would you report on?8. Is there anything you would change or include on BTN?9. Describe BTN using only 5 words. 10. Illustrate as aspect of this story.

Write a message about the story and post it in the comments section on the story page.

©ABC 2018

Teacher Resource

BTN 50th Anniversary

Talking about the newsBehind the News is a valuable tool to get students listening and talking about news and current affairs. After watching BTN’s 50th Anniversary episode, use BTN’s discussion questions to get you started, but remember some of the most useful ideas come from your students. Visit the BTN website and download this week’s discussion questions.

BTN begins in 1968Behind the News first went to air 50 years ago in 1968. In one of the first episodes BTN covered a range of stories including: an explainer on the role of the monarchy in Australia, a look into seafaring on Australian seas and student demonstrations around the world. What news story would you like to have seen covered on BTN in the year of 1968? Discuss as a class.

Students will look back on major events of 1968 to learn more about what was happening during that time. Students will then choose one event from 1968 and create their own BTN style news story. Alternatively, students may want to choose a significant event from another year to report on. They could use the internet or search for newspaper articles in a library to help with their research.

Below is a list of some news events for students to choose from:

News stories from 1968 John Gorton becomes Australia’s Prime Minister in January 1968,

after Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears in surf in December 1967.

Lionel Rose was the first Indigenous Australian to win a world boxing title and the first to become an Australian of the Year.

In 1968, the Seekers completed an extensive ‘homecoming tour’ of Australia. On Australia Day, The Seekers were named Australians of the Year (for the previous year).

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Episode 155th June 2018

Students will investigate the impact that changing technology has on how news is reported. Students will plan and produce their own BTN style news report.

Media Arts – Years 5 & 6Plan, produce and present media artworks for specific audiences and purposes using responsible media practice.

Media Arts – Years 7 & 8Develop and refine media production skills to shape the technical and symbolic elements of images, sounds and text for a specific purpose and meaning.

Plan, structure and design media artworks that engage audiences.

Other significant events Martin Luther King delivers his “I have a dream” speech in 1961. On the 21st of July 1969, Neil Armstrong takes the first steps on the moon. The first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, came out in 1997. Social networking website Facebook was founded in 2004. Scientists successfully guide a roving robot called Curiosity onto the surface of Mars in 2012.

Make your own BTN style news reportVisit BTN’s website for a range of tips and tricks on how to make your own BTN style news report.

There you will find a range of media assets as well as training videos on how to choose a story, script writing, interviewing people, getting clear audio and making the perfect video. We would love to see your reports, send them into the BTN via this email address btn-webmaster@abc.net.au

©ABC 2018

News over time Before watching the BTN History of Newsgathering story hold a class discussion to find out what your students know about how the news has changed over time.

How do you think journalists researched a news story before the internet? How do you think journalists wrote a news story before computers?

After watching the BTN History of Newsgathering story, students will respond to the following questions:

What did you SEE in this video? What do you THINK about what you saw in this video? What does this video make your WONDER? What did you LEARN from this story? What was SURPRISING about this story?

What questions were raised in the discussion and what are the gaps in their knowledge. The following KWLH organiser provides students with a framework to explore their knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn.

What do I know?

What do I want to know?

What have I learnt?

How will I find out?

Students will develop their own question/s for inquiry, collecting and recording information from a wide variety of sources. Students may develop their own question for inquiry or select one or more of the questions below.

Students will make comparisons between how the news is made now with how it was done in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or 2000s. Students will find out what has changed and stayed the same.

What impact do you think the arrival of television had on the way news was reported? How has technology (internet, mobile phones etc) changed the way reporters tell stories? Do you think Australians today are better informed about the news? Why or why not? How do most people get their news today? Make a prediction about how the way news is reported will change in the future. Illustrate your

prediction/s and provide an explanation. How has social media changed news reporting?

©ABC 2018

Are you after a news podcast for your students? These BTN updates are a wrap-up of the day's news told in simple, fun language kids want to hear. Get it on your favourite Podcast App, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, iTunes, ABC Listen or on BTN’s website.

Start your school day off by watching BTN Newsbreak with your students. BTN Newsbreak is a daily news bulletin designed for children, featuring stories that are relevant and easy to understand. Watch it on theBTN website.

BTN – Net News http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2653913.htm

BTN – Rookie Traininghttp://www.abc.net.au/btn/rookietraining.htm

ABC Education – News Reportinghttp://education.abc.net.au/home#!/digibook/1190931/news-reporting-collection

©ABC 2018

BTN: Episode 15 Transcript 5/6/18

Hi there, I'm Amelia Moseley and welcome to this very special 50th anniversary episode of Behind the News.

The History of BTNReporter: Matt Holbrook

INTRO: What you just saw there was the beginning of the very first episode of this show. It was broadcast on the 5th of June 1968. Of course, BTN looks pretty different these days for starters we're more colourful. But we're still bringing kids the news every week. And, today we're gonna take you on a bit of a tour to show you how we make BTN. But first let's find out more about the program's long history.

KID: I think that's great that it's been around for 50 years, because that would mean, most likely, my dad would have watched it when he was younger as well.

It might seem hard to believe but it was 50 years ago that the ABC decided kids should have a news program of their own. The first presenter was Peter Sumner. He was an actor and went on to have a role in Star Wars. Word went out to schools letting them know to tune in and on June 5th, 1968 the program made its debut. The seventies brought colour and some new presenters. The 80s saw more changes including some very colourful looks for presenter Richard Morecroft

RICHARD MORECROFT: Hi there, welcome to another Behind the News

He was also a news anchor and later a game show host. Paul Higgins took over hosting duties in 1986 when BTN moved to Melbourne and experimented with live recording and live reptiles.

PAUL HIGGINS: One show I do remember in particular. We had some crocodiles and other reptiles brought into the studio. I didn’t notice the crocodile moving but I kept seeing the camera operators jump back and sort of, you know, "AH" this kinda thing, and I thought, "ah oh, it's moving."

Then came the nineties and the internet. BTN was the first ABC program to have its own website.

TANIA NUGENT: So, you will see over the years when you watch all the footage from day one the program has evolved so much.

But in 2003 there was some sad news for the team. The ABC had its funding cut and decided to cancel Behind the News.

NEWSREADER: And after more than 30 years on air, the children's news program, Behind the News, will finish at the end of the year.

Many people - politicians, teachers, parents and kids fought to save the show.

©ABC 2018

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Do we like BTN? Yeah? So, what are we going to tell Russell Balding? Keep BTN.

And just over a year later BTN bounced back. It not only came back but grew. In the noughties Nathan Bazley came on as host and BTN started a daily news show on the ABC's new kids channel. And today kids player a bigger part in the show than ever before.

BTN Trivia

Did you know that BTN didn't get its name until 1969? When the show first went to air it was given the very, uh, creative name, "Current Affairs".

50 Years of NewsReporter: Matt Holbrook

INTRO: Aw thanks for those lovely messages, guys. We're gonna show you more of those throughout the program. Now, if you're wondering where I am, this is the control room. Without all of these screens and buttons the show would never get to you. The director controls all of the big studio cameras which film BTN and the nightly news. Can you imagine all of the stories that would’ve been shown on these screens over the years? Well, now let's take a look back at some of the biggest ones BTN has covered over the past 50 years.

From the very first episode BTN was covering big stories like protests over the Vietnam War. The following year Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon. 1972 brought supersonic speeds.

PRESENTER: Over the past few days many Australians have had their first chance to see the new Concorde supersonic airliner.

BTN reported on how Cyclone Tracy affected people in Darwin.

NEWSREADER: Chrissie’s rather special. She’s a Darwin girl. Almost a year ago the city in which she lives was devastated by a cyclone.

REPORTER: What did you think was going to happen?

KID: Thought we'd all get killed.

And all about how and why. The Governor General dismissed an entire government in 1975. It was a decade that also saw the release of Star Wars and the death of the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley. In the eighties the Australian Government returned Uluru to its traditional owners and the world's biggest pop stars came together to fight famine through song.

In the nineties BTN explained big stories like the release of Nelson Mandela. He would become South Africa's first black president after spending 27 years in prison for fighting the country's racist apartheid system. We also reported on changes to Australia's gun laws after a tragic attack in the Tasmanian Town of Port Arthur.

©ABC 2018

In 1997 the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars. And Australians went to the polls to decide if the country should be completely independent of the Commonwealth.

KID: Australia should become a republic because it's very important.

KID: It'll cost us too much to become a republic.

In the 2000s the world changed in a big way after attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11th, 2001 and later countries including the US and Australia were involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. There was other sad news including an enormous earthquake in Indonesia that triggered a tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004. More than 230,000 people were killed. In 2007 we told you about the global financial crisis and the global obsession with Harry Potter as the last book was released.

ALICE: I'm dressed as Luna Lovegood.

In 2008 Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations.

KEVIN RUDD: As Prime Minister of Australia I am sorry.

And in 2009 Barack Obama became America's first black president. Back home we had a change in leadership too as Julia Gillard became Australia's first female Prime Minister. In 2016 13-year-old Connor helped make history. His campaign for tactile bank notes to help blind or vision impaired people led to a new $5 note.

CONNOR: Sometimes you just need to stand up and do what you've gotta do.

And in 2017 we told you about disasters, some politicians' citizenship problems, and a big vote to change Australia's marriage laws. But of course, history is being made as we speak, and BTN is still a part of it.

BTN Trivia

BTN is the third longest running show on Australian television. What is the oldest?

Is it:

Neighbours

Four Corners

or

Play School?

It's Four Corners. It's been going for 57 years. Playschool comes second. It started in 1966 - just two years before us.

©ABC 2018

Behind the ScenesReporter: Jack Evans

INTRO: Now, this is the BTN office. There are heaps of people working behind the scenes to get the show to air. There are reporters, web designers, graphic artists, editors, producers and more. Jack is going to show you how we all work together to create an episode of BTN. Check it out.

Ever wondered what it takes to make or break the news. Well we’re giving you a behind the scenes of Behind the News. A behind, behind the news if you will.

AMELIA: Jack. What are you doing, we’re recording?

JACK: Oh. Sorry. Oops.

A week on BTN starts like this, with us all trying to figure out what stories to put in the show.

RUBY: The Federal Budget's about to be announced.

JACK: Look at these baby otters.

MATT: Scientists say there is a new breed of dog that only walks backwards.

That can be tricky, but we try to pick things that are well firstly true but also interesting and important to our audience. Our producer decides what's hot, what's not and who will do what.

SARAH: Our biggest news story of the week is probably the budget. So, Ruby can you do that for me?

RUBY: I'm already crunching the numbers.

Then comes the research. We have an education team that helps make sure our stories are teaching you what you need to know. And a special archive team who helps us to find pictures from all over Australia to help illustrate our stories.

BEC: I’ve found some fantastic disco material from the 70's.

AMELIA: Oooh fab.

Thursday’s the really fun day. That's when we go out to film stories with a camera operator and sound recordist. Sometimes we go out to interview experts or meet kids who are doing cool things. And sometimes we get young actors to explain our stories. Of course, we get to do a fair bit of dressing up too

MATT: What. How else do you explain negative gearing?

Right. While we're busy filming our graphic artists are busy putting together any animations we might need.

©ABC 2018

RUBY: I would like a budgie to represent the budget.

Then it's time to pick some music then record our voice over.

JACK: And that’s got PEOPLE worried. And THAT’S got people worried.

We have editors who carefully piece together all the parts of our story. Then it's time to put the whole show together. This is where Amelia gets to do what she does best.

DIRECTOR: Coming to camera 2 and take.

This is our director she films all the links that join the show together. And once it's ready it's beamed out to TVs right across the country and uploaded online.

Of course, BTN isn’t the only show that’s being made here. We have our daily program BTN Newsbreak.

ALL: Hi.

These guys have to work really fast to research, write, film and edit their stories every day.

EMMA: What stories have we got today? Olivia?

Meanwhile Ruby’s putting together a kid’s news podcast.

RUBY: Hey whatsup its Ruby here with a BTN news update.

And Nic and Oscar here are making videos for social media. While Daniel Looks after the website. Oh, and sometimes we do special projects like virtual reality experiences. So that's BTN we have fun making it and hopefully you guys have fun watching it.

BTN Trivia

In which Australian city is Behind the News made?

Brisbane

Adelaide

or

Sydney?

It's Adelaide. It's been made there since 1991. Before that it was made in Melbourne and it started in Sydney.

©ABC 2018

History of NewsgatheringReporter: Ruby Cornish

INTRO: The way we make BTN now is obviously pretty different to the way we made it 50 years ago. So, for our next story, we thought we'd set Ruby a bit of a challenge. We're taking away her 21st century technology so she can find out how the news was made in the old days.

RUBY: Not my phone. Not my phone.

RUBY: Okay, story, story.

It kind of seems hard to believe that people used to have to use these things instead of computers.

RUBY: Actually no. Delete, delete. What? There's no delete key? I have to get it right the first time?

And to find information you actually had to pick up a book. Without the internet, books and phones were a journalist's best friend.

RUBY: Hello?

RUBY: Okay, script. Done. Now I need a camera crew.

RUBY: Hey Andrew.

ANDREW: Hi Ruby.

RUBY: You're old. I need to film something like it was filmed back in the olden days. Like, 50 years ago. Can you show me how?

ANDREW: Well you can't do it on this camera. But I do have one that I can show you.

RUBY: Sweet, let's go.

ANDREW: I'm not that old.

RUBY: Alright, what is this crazy contraption?

ANDREW: Well Ruby, this is a state of the art news camera from the 1960s. It's a beautiful old machine, and it used this stuff, which is, film, 16-millimetre film. One roll of film would last for ten minutes.

RUBY: Ten minutes. So, you'd have to be really picky about your shots?

ANDREW: You'd have to be very choosy about what you filmed, yes.

RUBY: And does it still work?

©ABC 2018

ANDREW: Yeah, this one still works.

RUBY: Can we give it a try?

ANDREW: I think we should. Rolling.

RUBY: Back in the 1960s, news was made on 16-centimetre film. Oh, I mean millimetre. Can I go again?

ANDREW: No Ruby, film is really expensive.

RUBY: Ugh. Maybe I can fix it up in edit. Hey Bob, you're old. Can you please show me how to edit old school TV film?

BOB: Alright then.

RUBY: Thank you.

BOB: I'm not that old.

BOB: So, we have to put the spool over here, thread it up or lace it up, that’s what the term was.

RUBY: So, it looks like a moving image.

BOB: Yeah. It's made up of a series of single frames, 25 frames per second. When you play them altogether at the correct speed, you get a moving image.

RUBY: And, so what do you do if you want to make an edit?

BOB: We have a thing called a splicer. A film splicer. We would find the point we want to edit, we slice the piece that we want to cut, like so, then we bring the two pieces together, put some sticky tape on there, and there you go.

RUBY: This is really cool. But it's also really fiddly.

BOB: You wait til you have to do your graphics.

RUBY: Ooh Ruth, you're old.

RUTH: Oh, gee thanks Ruby.

RUBY: Sorry. I've gotta do some graphics, but I have to do them like they were done in the olden days. Can you show me how?

RUTH: If I remember.

RUBY: Thank you.

RUBY: So, there were the graphics.

©ABC 2018

RUTH: Yes. We'd start airbrushing a background and then we would find a picture generally sourced from local magazines, and often draw in a drop shadow to give an image a sense of depth. It was lots of fun, it felt quite artistic, you felt as though you were doing a small painting.

RUBY: How hard could it be? So, turns out I'm not that great at this 1960s TV-making stuff. But it has been really interesting to learn about how much all these techniques have changed over the years.

SARAH: Ruby, that's terrible. Are you actually going to have a story for us?

RUBY: Yeah. That's what those guys are for. Don't tell Amelia.

Why kids like BTN

Reporter: Jack Evans

INTRO: AMELIA: Hmmm cheated a bit, hey?

RUBY: A little.

AMELIA: Well that's just about it but before we go, we thought we'd ask some of you guys what you like best about BTN.

LOUIS: I like BTN because it gives students a break from school work and their stories are interesting to watch.

KIEN: In other news people like report it in some difficult way but BTN reports it in a child friendly way that everyone can understand.

KID: Urrh. It’s full of stinky mortgages.

REPORTER: They’re sub-prime mortgages and they've gone bad.

COMMUNICATION KID: But we're running out of time.

LEADER: Arrrgghhh.

AMELIA MOSELEY, REPORTER: While it isn't the end of the world, working out our country's budget is a really big deal.

JACK: And now it's time to play everyone's favourite game, what's my citizenship. With everyone's favourite host this guy.

NIC: Twas the night before the election and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Except for one girl who was having a bit of a sook.

HARRY: I like the story where it involves kids because it’s nice to see kids being involved in stories more often.

©ABC 2018

JASMINE: They inspire me because they can do such big things at a young age.

HANNAH: HI BTN I'm Hannah.

YUMA: Hi BTN My name is Yuma.

CHLOE: Hey BTN my name is Chloe.

JORDAN: Cerebral Palsy makes some things tricky, but it doesn't stop me doing things I love.

HARRISON: When I was born, I was only born with 15 per cent kidney function.

CONNOR: I started an online petition to get the Reserve Bank of Australia to add tactile features to Aussie bank notes.

MEG: I'm really excited that Coles and Woolworths have put a price on single use plastic bags and that's just the start.

LOUIS: I like the stories where the reporters dress up and are a bit silly.

NIC: Urgh. Mother I am doing my homework.

CHARLOTTE: Another one for Santa. Santa.

AMELIA: More people are living to a ripe old age.

TASH: For talking in class two strokes of the cane.

MATT: I'm Mattman.

Closer

That's one of our favourite parts of the show too. And, we do really love making BTN, but it would be nothing without you, the kids of Australia. So, on behalf of all of us and everyone behind the scenes I’d like to say a big thank you for watching and for being part of the show.

Well, that's it for this 50th BTN special but as always, we'll be back next week with all the news you need to know. Bye for now.

©ABC 2018