CNN Student News Is Back in Session with Commercial-Free Newscasts

2009 Marks 20th Anniversary of CNN Student News; New Curriculum to Include Media Literacy Questions

For the last 20 years, CNN Student News has provided commercial-free newscasts specifically for middle and high school classrooms, and on Monday, Aug. 17, the weekday program returns around the world with a host of multi-platform offerings.

Each weekday during the school year, CNN Student News provides educators, parents and students with a 10-minute news program anchored by Carl Azuz. In addition to airing on HLN each Monday through Friday at 4 a.m. ET, the newscast can be viewed on-demand at www.CNNStudentNews.com and is available for free download in the video podcast section of the iTunes store.

“CNN is proud to offer students and educators the high-quality content they have come to expect from CNN in a cost-free, commercial-free, educational setting,” said Donna Krache, executive producer of CNN Student News. “It is an incredible honor that educators, parents and students alike have turned to CNN Student News for the past twenty years to educate young people about what’s going on in the world around them.”

At www.CNNStudentNews.com, users also can access free online educational materials including discussion questions, news quizzes, maps and video. Additionally, beginning Aug. 17, CNN Student News is offering a new online curriculum element: the media literacy question of the day, which can be found in the daily discussion section of the show’s site.

“The cable industry believes strongly that the ability to analyze, evaluate and understand media is a vital skill for young people, especially in the digital age,” said Frank Gallagher, director education & media literacy, Cable in the Classroom, “Through its media literacy question of the day, CNN Student News is bolstering its commitment to provide middle and high school students with valuable and appropriate information they need to succeed now and in the future.”

This year, CNN Student News celebrates 20 years of developing commercial-free news programming for the classroom. A special 20th anniversary show is scheduled to air on Friday, Sept. 25.

During the remainder of 2009, CNN Student News will offer a parent and educator guide for the upcoming documentary CNN Presents: Latino in America, a documentary initiative that examines the growing diversity of America. The show also will offer exclusive content and teacher and parenting guides related to “CNN Heroes,” the network’s global initiative spotlighting ordinary citizens accomplishing extraordinary deeds. These complimentary online materials will be available at www.CNNStudentNews.com.

CNN Student News, CNN’s cost-and-commercial-free educational program for middle and high schools uses the vast resources of CNN Worldwide to create news and information content specifically for the classroom. CNN Student News airs on HLN, Monday - Friday throughout the school year at 4 a.m. (ET). The show is available for on-demand viewing on the Web at www.CNNStudentNews.com and as a video podcast on CNN.com and iTunes.