View source for Behind the News

{{Other uses}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = BTN 2019 titlecard.png
| image_size           = 220
| caption              = 
| alt_name             = BTN
| genre                = {{hlist|[[Children's television series|Children's]]|[[educational television|education]]|[[current affairs (news format)|current affairs]]}}
| creator              = 
| based_on             = 
| developer            = 
| writer               = 
| director             = 
| creative_director    = 
| presenter            = {{ubl|Amelia Moseley (2018–present)|Nathan Bazley (2007–2017)|Sarah Larsen|Tash Thiele}}
| starring             = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = 
| open_theme           = 
| end_theme            = 
| composer             = 
| country              = Australia
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 50
| num_episodes         = 
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = Robert Clark ({{Circa|2005}}–2014)
| producer             = 
| editor               = 
| location             = [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]]
| cinematography       = 
| runtime              = 26 minutes
| company              = 
| channel              = [[ABC TV (Australian TV network)|ABC TV]] (1968–2014)<br />[[ABC Me]] (2014–2024)<br />[[ABC Entertains]] (Classroom, 2024-present)<br />[[ABC Family (Australian TV channel)|ABC Family]] (Newsbreak, 2024-present)
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1968|06|05|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1969||}}
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|1969||}}
| last_aired2          = {{End date|2003|12|09|df=yes}}
| first_aired3         = {{Start date|2005|02|15|df=yes}}
| last_aired3          = present
| related              = 
}}

'''''Behind the News''''' (more commonly known as '''''BTN''''') is an Australian children's news program televised by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.abc.net.au/btn/about |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Behind The News |language=en-AU}}</ref> Described as an 'educational news program aimed at 10-13 year old kids', ''BTN'' is commonly used by [[Education in Australia|schools in Australia]] as an education tool to help children catch up with current affairs and issues.<ref>{{Citation |last=SA |first=Our Learning |title=Behind the News (BTN) |date=2022-10-11 |url=https://www.education.sa.gov.au/our-learning-sa/learning-home-activities/humanities-and-social-sciences/behind-news-btn |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=Our Learning SA |language=en}}</ref>

''BTN'' currently has three shows. ''Classroom'' is the flagship weekly show that investigates various news topics for 10-13 year olds. ''Newsbreak'' is a daily news show to help Australians kids stay informed on current affairs within 5 minutes. ''High'' is exclusive to digital platforms and goes more in-depth into topics that are more appropriate for high school students.

==History==
On 5 June 1968, ''Behind the News'' aired its first episode. Originally known as ''Current Affairs'', the name was changed to its current name within a year. The discovery of the first episode happened during the 45th anniversary (at the time, the show claimed to have started in 1969).<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Episode 1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6Iop5hhmU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zh6Iop5hhmU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|series=Current Affairs |network=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=1968-06-05 |season=1 |number=1}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The ABC chose to axe ''Behind the News'' at the end of 2003 in an argument with the Australian Government over funding, but it returned to air in 2005.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Media Literacy and Behind The News |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/mediareport/media-literacy-and-behind-the-news/3404886 |series=Media Report |last=O'Regan |first=Mick |network=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |station=Radio National |date=2004-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=BTN Returns to ABC TV in 2005 |date=2004-10-12 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1218060.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604015154/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1218060.htm |archive-date=2006-06-04}}</ref> While ''BTN'' was the first and original program of this nature, a similar program on [[Network Ten]], ''[[ttn]]'' (''The Total News''), debuted 2003, the year ''BTN'' ceased transmission. ''The Total News'' was axed at the end of 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-05 |title=Axed: ttn {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2008/12/axed-ttn.html |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=tvtonight.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In June 2014, ''BTN'' celebrated its 45th anniversary and produced a short spliced clip of several decades' worth of presenters and theme songs.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx8RFFi0n4U  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Sx8RFFi0n4U |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Behind the News, 45 Years 1969-2014 |date=2014-06-03 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=2015-04-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bazley |first=Nathan |date=2014-06-03 |title=Behind the News Celebrates 45 Years on Air |url=http://abcnewsgathering.tumblr.com/post/87729098641/behind-the-news-celebrates-45-years-on-air |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060432/http://abcnewsgathering.tumblr.com/post/87729098641/behind-the-news-celebrates-45-years-on-air |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2015-04-18 |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |publisher=[[Tumblr]]}}</ref> On 21 July 2014, ''BTN'' moved to digital channel [[ABC3]] as part of the ABC's educational programming move.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2014-06-10 |title=ABC Educational programming moving to ABC3 |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2014/06/abc-educational-programming-moving-to-abc3.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710063610/https://tvtonight.com.au/2014/06/abc-educational-programming-moving-to-abc3.html |archive-date=2017-07-10 |access-date=2018-08-22 |publisher=TV Tonight}}</ref>

On 2 May 2016, ''BTN'' relaunched with new graphics and a new look, also switching from using greenscreen to using the same set used on ABC3 News. The new graphics and look were teased on 1 May 2016 with the launch of ''BTN Newsbreak'', a rebrand of ABC3 News.

According to the last episode of ''BTN Newsbreak'' for 2021, it was announced that the show would have a new look which was launched the next year.

In 2022, BTN officially announced ''BTN High'', a version of ''BTN'' for highschool students, with the first episodes airing in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-07 |title=After 55 years delivering the news to primary school kids, BTN is launching something new |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/backstory/2023-02-08/new-btn-high-program-secondary-schools/101941384 |access-date=2023-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-16 |title=Get Ready for BTN High |url=https://www.abc.net.au/btn/high/btn-high-promo/101783608 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Behind The News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== Presenters and reporters ==

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2023}}

''Behind the News'' is presented by Amelia Moseley. ''BTN'' is produced by Sarah Larsen.

The current reporting team at ''Behind the News'' includes: Jack Evans, Matthew Holbrook, Leela Varghese, Nathaniel Kelly, Cale Matthews, Charlotte Batty, Natasha Thiele, Amal Wehbe, Alexander Aarao-Ward, Michelle Wakim, Joseph Baronio, Olivia Mason, Nicholas Maher, Ella Germein, Josh Langman, Justina Ward, Lyeba Khan, Thomas Midena, Wren Gillett, Kushi Venkatesh, and Saskia Mortarotti.

Former reporters include Ruby Cornish, Carl Smith, Erin Scott, Ben Nielsen, Evelyn Manfield, [[Martin Dougan]] and Emma Davis.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Television|Australia}}
* [[List of Australian television series]]
* [[List of longest-running Australian television series]]

==External links==
* [https://abc.net.au/btn/ ABC ''Behind the News'' website]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

{{ABC Television programming}}
{{News & Current Affairs in Australia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Behind The News}}
[[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming]]
[[Category:ABC News and Current Affairs]]
[[Category:Australian children's television series]]
[[Category:Black-and-white Australian television shows]]
[[Category:Australian television news shows]]
[[Category:Children's news shows]]
[[Category:1968 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2003 Australian television series endings]]
[[Category:2005 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2015 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1970s Australian television series]]
[[Category:1980s Australian television series]]
[[Category:1990s Australian television series]]
[[Category:2000s Australian television series]]
[[Category:2020s Australian television series]]
[[Category:Australian English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Adelaide]]
[[Category:Australian television series revived after cancellation]]