ABOUT FIRST NEWS

First News is the UK's only newspaper for young people and the widest-read children's publication in the country with a readership of 1,047,543 seven to 14 year olds every week.

First News was founded by Sarah & Steve Thomson and launched by Piers Morgan and Editor Nicky Cox in May 2006. 

First News' ABC audited circulation is 62,903 Jan – Jun 2012. 

First News has 30,000 children reading it at home every week (via subscription and news-stand sales) with subscriptions growing at approx 1000 a month.

First News in schools

One third of schools across the UK currently subscribe and teachers see First News as an essential part of school life with 87% of them telling us First News helps to improve literacy and 99% saying they would recommend the newspaper.* Our special Newspaper & Resources Package provides schools with a variety of teaching materials and activities to develop pupils' learning through news stories. Click here to visit our School's page. 

The First News website 

The First News website has nearly half a million monthly page impressions with more than 35,000 young people registered.

Kids' Views – Research Panel

We partnered with independent research company, Opinion Matters, in early 2010 and created the First News Kids Panel. We now have over 23,000 kids signed up who regularly engage with our surveys.

First News TV

First News TV launched in January 2011 and this digital channel can be described as a YouTube for kids. Kids can watch fun video’s that have been screened by our web editors before being hosted on the site. Our flagship broadcast is a weekly news bulletin for kids produced by our partner, Sky News. Check out First News TV here. 

Campaigns

First News campaigns First News is committed to giving a voice to the children of the UK and to improving the lives of children across the world. Every year, First News launches a new campaign targeting a specific issue and asks both children and schools to get involved. In 2010, First News launched My Way!, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness that one in five children have learning challenges. It was a high profile launch at 10 Downing Street. Hosted by the then Prime Minister’s wife and Secretary of State for Education along with the campaign ambassador, Henry Winkler. And previous to that First News ran a campaign about Child soldiers which saw 235,000 young people signing a petition to call for the international community to find ways to stop the use of children in adult wars.

Awards

First News was awarded Best National Weekly Newspaper of the year and Best Niche Market Newspaper at the 2012 Newspaper awards and also won the Newspaper of the Year award from the Plain English Campaign in November 2011 and a Save the Children award for Outstanding Contribution to Children in 2008.

* Readership Survey, Opinion Matters, 2011