Behind the News


Behind the News is a long-running news programme broadcast on Australia's ABC TV made in Adelaide and aimed at school-aged children. BtN is aimed at upper primary and lower secondary students to help them understand issues and events outside their own lives.
Behind the News explores news using the current language, music and popular culture of youths. The programme explains the basic concepts that underpin the issues and events, while also providing background information. Behind the News also covers children's issues often overlooked by mainstream news, and makes use of online resources including streaming video of BtN stories, study materials for teachers and additional information and activities for students.

History

On 5 June 1968, Behind the News aired its first episode. Originally known as "Current Affairs", the name was changed to its current name within a year. The discovery of the first episode happened during the 45th anniversary.
The ABC chose to axe Behind the News at the end of 2003 in an argument with the Government over funding, but it returned to air in 2005. While BtN was the first and original program of this nature, a similar program on Network Ten, ttn, debuted in the year BtN did not air. ttn itself was axed at the end of 2008.
In June 2014, BtN celebrated its 45th birthday, producing a short spliced clip of several decades' worth of presenters and theme songs. On 21 July 2014, BtN moved to digital channel ABC3 as part of the ABC's educational programming move.
On 2 May 2016, BTN relaunched with new graphics and a new look, also switching from using greenscreen to using the same set used on ABC3 News. The new graphics and look were teased on 1 May 2016 with the launch of BTN Newsbreak, a rebrand of ABC3 News.

BtN Newsbreak

BtN Newsbreak is a program broadcast on ABC ME since launch, and in its current form, May 2016. They are produced by and feature the same team as Behind the News.

Presenters and reporters

Behind the News and BtN Newsbreak are presented by Amelia Moseley. BtN is produced by Sarah Larsen.
The current reporting team at Behind the News and Newsbreak includes: Emma Davis, Jack Evans, Ruby Cornish, Natasha Thiele, Matthew Holbrook and Olivia Mason.