Help for Young People to Make Sense of World News

PARIS, February 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

A team of experienced foreign correspondents is launching an online service to help young people around the world interpret international news and deepen global understanding.

The start-up, called News-Decoder, is backed by more than 30 veteran journalists who will explain the background and significance of major world news for millennials, who are swamped with headlines but often lack the historical perspective to make sense of events.

The service will host debates allowing young adults to make their voices heard and to share differing perspectives. News-Decoder will offer talented millennials a chance to contribute their own articles and to work in an innovative start-up that will nurture entrepreneurial savvy.

"News-Decoder will create a community of young people around the world who want to extend their horizons and learn from each other and from our experts," said Nelson Graves, a former foreign correspondent and educator who founded the not-for-profit start-up.

The correspondents, who have covered most of the biggest international news stories in the past half century, will contribute articles and moderate discussions, debates and round tables on News-Decoder's digital platform. Many of the journalists, who have lived on every continent, used to work for Reuters, and News-Decoder will put an emphasis on impartiality and accuracy.

"It's often said that news is the first draft of history. But that first draft can leave young people adrift in understanding what's going on and why it's important," said Graves, who is based in Paris. "The stories that our correspondents have covered include the Vietnam War, 9/11, three Iraq wars, Wall Street meltdowns, Palestinian intifadas, World Cups and Olympics."

Among its correspondents are former Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger and former senior U.S. Defense Department official James Clad.

In addition to a website with original articles, photos and video, News-Decoder will organize virtual debates and discussions, allowing 18-to-30-year-olds around the world to share their views on big news events. News-Decoder launched a crowd-funding campaign on February 23 to raise enough money to underwrite a pilot project to test the novel concept.

"The problem for young people today is not a lack of information. We are drowning in information," said Ihssane Loudiyi of Morocco, a consultant at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. "What is missing today is an objective, interactive platform that encourages the world's young to respond and act."

While a number of new digital media have launched in recent months, News-Decoder hopes to stake out new ground with its global perspective and footprint, its emphasis on the interaction of millennials with each other and experts, and its B2B business model with academic institutions and libraries as clients.

"News-Decoder is a global classroom on current world events," said Graves, who has lived in the United States, France, India, Malaysia, Italy and Japan. "It will help the next generation of world leaders appreciate different perspectives and combat pre-conceived notions."

News-Decoder will earn money through subscriptions to events and content on its digital platform. Its website, http://www.news-decoder.com, will be free.

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SOURCE News-Decoder