The kid-targeted podcast company Pinna is partnering with Time magazine to create a new weekly news podcast geared toward young listeners. The Time for Kids podcast will accompany the new issue of Time for Kids digital magazine each week. The first episode is focused on the COVID-19 pandemic as part of an effort to help families, teachers and students who are adjusting to school closures.
“This podcast series is an important step for Pinna and our overall mission to create original audio productions that get kids thinking in new ways, where kids can hear themselves in the stories, and to deliver exceptional journalism in a kid-appropriate way through a kid-appropriate lens,” said Maggie McGuire, CEO of Pinna. “As a former teacher I have long respected Time for Kids and the high-quality resources they provide kids and teachers. Partnering with them to create this podcast will help bring a new dimension to these stories, adding an additional level of interactivity and excitement in a way only audio can.”
The weekly news podcast will include Time for Kids reporters interviewing subjects and presenting the news in what Pinna says will be a lively and interactive format. Each episode’s theme will be tied to the content of the digital magazine with the podcast geared toward contextualizing the information to bring a broader understanding and allow kids to process and interpret the news. Different segments will give historical context to current news, provide suggestions for how kids can get involved, and highlight the importance of checking your facts.
“Time for Kids has been giving kids age-appropriate, fact-based information for 25 years, and they need it now more than ever,” said Editor In Chief Andrea Delbanco. “Connecting with the voices of other kids and learning while listening is a great way to engage kids who are stuck at home, and we are so excited to partner with Pinna to bring Time for Kids to life in a whole new dimension.”
The teaser episode about the coronavirus is available for free, just like the new issue of Time for Kids. Pinna says the new podcast will then become available throughout the school year starting in August. Pinna charges an $8 per month or $80 per year subscription fee.