Newspaper for Kids Launches in Britain

By: Britain's newsstands will get a little more crowded on Friday with the launch of a new newspaper for kids, which will compete for attention alongside the nation's notorious tabloids and serious broadsheets.

First News, a national weekly aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds, says it is Britain's first newspaper for children. The initial print run is pegged at 350,000 copies, with a cover price of one pound ($1.85).

While the paper's creators say the paper is aimed at kids, Adrian Monck, head of journalism at London's City University, says the editors are really catering to parents.

"This is aimed at parents who are worried about the affect of watching too much ... television," Monck said. "They want to know that they've left something that's 'nutritious' in the living room or next to the computer."

The team behind First News is well-known in British journalism circles. Piers Morgan, the former editor of the tabloid Daily Mirror, is the editorial director, while Nicky Cox, who ran the British Broadcasting Corp.'s family division, is the editor.

The paper intends to cover the same sorts of stories as their grown-up cousins - science, environment, sports and show business - and will feature celebrity contributors like soccer star David Beckham and chef Jamie Oliver.

"Editorially, we speak at their level," Morgan said in a statement. "In addition to all the fun content we hope to be a forum for national debates on children's issues and cover the subjects they feel strongly about."