New News Programme to Launch On Community Channel

ITN and Media Trust Productions have joined forces with Mencap, the UK's learning disability charity, to produce a news programme for the Community Channel for viewers with a learning disability or difficulty.
The programme has the working title of 'Your News' and it will be the first of its kind in the UK.
Initially a pilot, with plans for a weekly fifteen-minute news bulletin, the programme is co-presented by ITN On journalist, Olivia Hill, and Andrew Lee, Director of People First. The programme will feature a round-up of the week's leading national, international, sports and showbiz news stories, as well as airing special features produced by journalists with a learning disability about issues of concern for the audience.
Mencap has advised ITN and Media Trust Productions on accessibility issues and suitable feature ideas.
Jon Godel, Editor of ITN On, said: "ITN is delighted to be involved with this project and to use its news production expertise to deliver a bespoke product for an important audience.
"News is a powerful tool for bringing people together and keeping them informed. We aim to produce a news bulletin that is engaging, lively and easier to follow in terms of its style, presentation and language."
Peter Weil, Director of Production & Digital Media, at the Media Trust, said: "This is an exciting initiative, which is long overdue. The news should be accessible and available to everyone."
The project is supported by industry regulator Ofcom and Robina Care Solutions, a national provider of support services to people with learning disabilities.
The pilot programme will air on the Community Channel (Sky539/Virgin Media 233/Freeview 87 (6-9am)) on March 28 at 8:30, 14:30, 20:30 and 02:30.
'Your News' is also looking for funding partners to enable the programme to run as a weekly news service for an initial 12-month period.
For further information on how your organisation can be involved, please contact Sarah Cable at: [email protected].
ITN is one of the world's leading news and multimedia content companies creating, aggregating, packaging and distributing news and other multi-platform content to a wide range of customers around the globe. Further information is available at: www.itn.co.uk.
Media Trust Productions produces award-winning films for charities and the wider not-for-profit sector, as well as communication tools, such as interactive CD Roms, DVDs and media-rich web content for fundraising, education and promotional purposes. Further information is available at: www.mediatrust.org.
The Community Channel is dedicated to engaging audiences with the charitable and voluntary sector, showcasing stories and issues that inspire action and encourage involvement. The channel is a free-to-air TV station, which is available to 16.5 million digital households in the UK and to 41 million potential viewers. Further information is available at: www.communitychannel.org.
(KMcA)