Parents' Guide to

What Matters

By KJ Dell Antonia, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

30-minute 60 Minutes for tweens and up.

TV HBO Family Educational 1999
What Matters Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

WHAT MATTERS is a news magazine designed for teens and preteens. Each episode includes an international, domestic, and lifestyle story aimed at teens' interests and offering a teen persepctive. Generally, teens are interviewed for each segment, which is narrated by teens as well. It provides exposure to television news and its advantages and disadvantages, offering the chance to discuss facts, opinions, and whether there might be more to the story.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

What Matters was filmed in the late '90s, but most subjects are still current, which might offer another opportunity to talk. If famine in one country and violence in another were news almost 10 years ago, why hasn't anything changed? It's a good starting point for many family discussions -- from what family members think of the issue itself to what they might say or do if someone tried to interview them for a news program like this one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the events and issues shown -- violence in Northern Island, famine, dress codes, make-up. Families can also use this as a jumping-off point for discussing televised media and news. Can you believe what's being shown? What's fact, and what's opinion? If you wanted to find out more, what could you do?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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