News Broadcasting
Canadian kids prefer ‘exciting’, ‘funny’ TV shows
TORONTO: 75 per cent of Canadian children and adolescents chose their favourite television programmes because of two attributes: “exciting” and “funny”.
A few days ago, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) published the results of its research Kids’ Take on Media. The survey covered 5,756 students in Grades three to 10. The research found that approximately 75 per cent of children and adolescents chose their favourite television programmes because of two attributes: “exciting” and “funny”. The “violent” component was the least favoured of all, ranking at the bottom of the list of 10 possible attributes presented to children in the survey. When asked why they disliked certain video games, “too boring” and “not enough action” were cited as the top two reasons.
The survey also found that frequent news watchers feel more worried about the world but also more motivated to do something about it. Younger children are the ones most frightened by the news, feeling their personal safety is at risk. Girls are more likely to be sensitive to the harmful effects of media violence; 60 per cent of younger boys play video and computer games daily; and 75 per cent of kids in Grades 7-10 watch restricted movies at home. More than half the students surveyed in Grades 7 to 10 said they had witnessed real acts of violence that mimicked computer games, videos or television shows.
48 per cent of Canadian kids aged 8-15 have their own TV and 35 per cent have their own VCR. CTF president Terry Price was quoted in an official release saying, “We chose the timing to highlight the significant influence that media has in the lives of children and adolescents, and our role as parents and educators in making the most of that connection.”
The Kids’ Take on Media study shows that children and adolescents whose parents supervise their TV viewing and who discuss violence, racism and sexism in the media, are more likely to be aware of the negative impact of media violence. Many children, however, are on their own.
Nearly half the students surveyed say they receive no parental guidance on which television programmes they can watch. Two-thirds report that no one says which video or computer games they can play, or for how long. These children are more likely to regard media violence as benign.
Young people themselves recognise the need for supervision. Their top-rated TV show The Simpsons (airs in India on Star World) is one they believe younger children should not be watching. They also recognise the power of interactivity in video games, saying that there should be tighter age restrictions on mature-rated video and computer games than on R-rated films.
Price added, “Although media education is mandated in all provinces and territories there is little professional learning development for teachers attached to this new discipline. There are many excellent resources currently available to parents and teachers, to help young people to think critically about what they are watching or interacting with on TV and computer screens. Our survey shows that the older children get, the more they themselves see the value of studying media in school.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
