You know the big newspaper dada reads at the kitchen table on Saturday, while you eat your crepes? I want to tell you a little story about why the newspaper is a gift with special powers.
Each of the words you see in the newspaper are part of a story. All the stories are what’s called the news. Think of it like this; imagine all your bedtime story books being put together in one big book. You still have each story, but they are all in one place – that’s basically the newspaper.
But here is where the newspaper is different from your bedtime stories. Instead of the stories being about princesses, dogs and imaginary places – the stories in the news are about real life.
The most important thing I want you to remember is that news is real. It’s about real things. Real people and real stuff. It can be all kinds of different stories, like about people who get in trouble with the police, schools that aren’t doing well, sports games, cool things from different countries and even stories about the weather. Yes, entire news stories just about the weather! Seriously. And there are also so many different pictures.
Dada likes to read the newspaper because that’s how he learns about what is happening in the world. What I learn I can then tell mumma and even you guys and yes, other people too.
Now here is another really special thing about newspapers. There are people whose job it is to make the news we read. They’re called journalists. The stories in the newspaper don’t just appear there like a magic spell from Cedric. Someone has to type them on their computer after watching the story happen in real life. Love those people. They’re the best and right now they’re under attack.
Not real attack like with bows and arrows, but other people are trying hard to stop them from doing their jobs, from telling true, great stories. Why would anyone do that? It’s hard to say, but for now, you can help. What I want you to always know is that we need journalists because they tell the news in a way that is mostly fair. No, they’re not perfect and like you and everyone else, they sometimes make mistakes. That’s ok because, for the most part, they’re trying their absolute best to teach us and tell us stories that matter.
So, next time when you’re eating your crepes after we scrape the paper off the front steps, remember that each word is part of a real story, each one matters and they’re all powerful.
Additional reads on the crisis in Canadian media:
Daddy's Days 