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Nick News with Linda Ellerbee

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    A must-see news program for teens and tweens.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Linda Ellerbee promotes healthy discussion for kids about difficult issues.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Discussion of activity related to wars, school shootings, celebrity murders.
  • Sex:

    Suggestions of sexual activities when discussing certain topics in the news, such as Monica Lewinsky.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee was written by Pam Gelman

Parents need to know that this award-winning news program for older school-aged kids and adolescents covers tough issues like the Iraq wars, the aftermath of September 11, the Columbine tragedy, and Hurricane Katrina. Multiple perspectives are raised during host Linda Ellerbee's facilitated discussion. For younger or more-sensitive viewers, parents need to be prepared to discuss the issues, answer questions, and perhaps skip episodes that are too sad or difficult to understand.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about the discussions raised by the program. Watching this show is no replacement for meaningful parent-child conversations about these hard topics. Questions will be raised that the show doesn't cover, and parents may need to ask kids questions to make sure they understand why these issues are important.
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More on Nick News with Linda Ellerbee

What’s the Story?

Geared for teens and tweens interested in world events, NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE helps kids make sense of world events by presenting them in kid-friendly, understandable language. Host Linda Ellerbee tackles big topics like war in Iraq, AIDS, the O.J. Simpson trial, as well as other important issues that are very relatable to this age: bullying, divorce, learning and mental disorders, body image, and homelessness. Sitting cross-legged with a group of school-aged boys and girls of all races, Ellerbee presents an issue and then asks questions about how the kids would react in this situation. Then she'll present a different perspective and give the kids time to think about and change their responses. Nick News also features exposés on specific events, projects, or problems related to the theme of the episode, such as recycling and the environmental hazards of non-recyclable products.

Is It Any Good?

Nick News has been on the air since 1992 and has won Emmy, Peabody, and Columbia duPont awards and been endorsed by the National Education Association. There's no debate over the benefits of kids learning about politics and their world. The only words of caution to parents would be to watch out for very serious topics that might be inappropriate for younger viewers. Nick News is intended for teens and tweens who have the maturity to hear about difficult topics.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 0
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 1.0

    no

    should be TV-Y7, TV-G or TV-PG but not TV-Y.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 1.0

    TV-G

  3. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Isn`t on enough, but otherwise great show

    I don`t think it`s really on enough for me to give it a completely accurate review [Only on once every few months] but it always has a really good topic. The only issue is that it can get a little bit boring for kids like me [I`m 11] but I think it`s a great show for kids to watch with their parents. GREAT alternative to the actual "news"!

  4. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Nick News-keeping it real

    I LOVE THIS SHOW,

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Nick New Are Ages 10 + 18

    It Was An Good For Kids Ages 10 + 18

  6. I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 3.0

    Intense for Nickelodeon

    Some of the episodes, aimed at tweens and teens but watched my young children, are aimed at innapropriate topics, and at points it is very intense, but the specials are cool and have good information. It's informative for tweens but younger kids will be either bored or freaked out.

  7. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    a powerful show

    this is a very good show. But sometimes it talks about very intence subjects.

  8. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 2.0

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title on and give it 4.0

  10. I rate this title on and give it 5.0

    This show is soooo cool! I love it! Watch it!

  11. I rate this title on and give it 5.0

    good

    good

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on and give it 5.0

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title off and give it .0

    Ellerbee

    Linda Ellerbee runs a program of propaganda to take advantage of young people and presents it as news. Opposing views are not allowed time.

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