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

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.