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Article In: English Text Construction: Online-First Articles

Polyphony in the coverage of climate change in children’s news

A case study of BBC Newsround

ORCiD logo with link | Vrije Universiteit Brussel
ORCiD logo with link | University of Zurich | KU Leuven
 | KU Leuven
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Abstract
This article examines how Newsround, the BBC’s flagship children’s news programme, covers climate change and how its reporting engages young audiences through polyphony, or multivoicedness. Through a content and discourse analysis, the study investigates constructive journalism in Newsround’s climate coverage, by analysing which voices are represented and how different viewpoints are negotiated. Findings show that Newsround’s climate coverage centres on consequences, politics, and activism, while causes and solutions receive less direct attention. Children’s voices are strongly present — often as questioners, experiencers, or activists — though adults retain authority over factual explanations. Engagement strategies balance monoglossia with heteroglossic dialogue, often using contraction to counter misinformation and expansion to make suggestions and/or express feelings and opinions. The study argues that Newsround offers a constructive model of children’s climate journalism, but that more equal footing between adult and child voices and greater attention to systemic solutions would enhance its empowering potential.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background
    • 2.1Constructive climate journalism
    • 2.2Polyphony and engagement
  • 3.Material and methods
  • 4.Quantitative and qualitative analysis
    • 4.1What is discussed? Main topics in climate news stories
    • 4.2Who’s talking? Distribution of ‘voices’
    • 4.3Engagement with other viewpoints
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Author queries
  • References
References (59)
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