Newsround Blog Summary

Too lazy to read the whole blog? Here is a summary of the main points:

Newsround doesn't report any lgbt stories or stories about combatting homophobia and homophobic bullying.

Ian Prince, Editor of Newsround, has been asked to be inclusive for over two years.

Mr Prince believes, contrary to recent studies of homophobia in primary school, that tackling homophobic bullying is better suited to older people in secondary schools. But he said that there is no actual policy against including lgbt news stories.

Despite Mr Prince's emphasis on the age range of his "target audience," the majority of kids who are interviewed or who appeared recently on Newsround are in the secondary school age range. Also the feedback which they receive, quoted on the programme, is often from kids aged 13 to 15.

Newsround has consistently avoided lgbt news stories - even those making national headlines such as the introduction of Civil Partnerships last December. Newsround has also failed to report any initiative to combat homophobia, whether it be homophobic chanting in football stadiums or homophobic bullying at schools.

The BBC Diversity Centre has recently said that diversity should form a substantial element of editorial judgement and that all editors share an obligation to give adequate and meaningful consideration to diversity matters.

So far the Newsround team have given no indication that they intend to change and become inclusive of lgbt young people and issues.