24 News Now

24 News Now is a student-run national news network dedicated to bringing simple, but comprehensive news to teens in as many formats as possible around the world. 24 News has two divisions, 24 News’ online news paper, and 24 News Now Video Network. 24 News is not associated with any school and/or any other organization. It is an independent organization.

History

Before 24 News Now became widely-known for its professional national broadcasting, it all started with Marcus Harun on September 10, 2006. 24 News began on Connecticut local access television, CTV, as a local news show hosted by Harun, called ABC 24 News. About a year later the show was upgraded to covering world news and renamed: “24 Evening News with Marcus Harun”. Now, 24 News has transitioned its focus to its national broadcast and website.

24NewsNow.com has another background story. The website began as a supplement to the local news show, abc24news.net. In summer of 2007, the site moved to 24NewsNow.com, and –like the show—began to focus on national news. With the new site debut came a whole bunch of amazing features. 24 News became the first student news station to broadcast on a 24-hour news network. The network, 24 News Now, debut the flagship program, The 24 News Brief. For a few months, the news brief was updated four times a day. Marcus Harun and Alex Marron shared the anchoring positions of the 5-minute 6am, noon, 6pm, and midnight news updates. The high school students became active in their school communities, and decided to tone down the shows to once a day. The 24 News Brief was hosted by many anchors over the years including Nino Napolitano and John Curley.
The 24 News website itself, has witnessed many changes and upgrades. 24NewsNow.com had brand new releases of the news website in 2007, 2008, and 2009. With new designs and features in each release, Harun – the designer and administrator of the site—has worked hard to make the site more available to more people in more places around the world. The site has also become more user friendly with more fun features to bring the news to you in an effortless fashion.

In January 2009, the 24 News Wire was introduced using Twitter technology. Viewers now can “follow” 24 News headlines via twitter.com. The 24 News Wire is the top headlines that 24 News is reporting; updated multiple times a day. Along with the twitter release, now all 24 News broadcasts will be streamed in high-quality wide-screen format.

Late April 2009, 24 News began its new user-involvement campaign: 24 News Connect. This encompasses six different viewer-participation technologies: Twitter, Facebook, RSS, E-mail alerts, mobile website and podcasts. 1)The 24 News Wire is the top headlines that 24 News is reporting; updated multiple times a day at twitter.com/24NewsNow . 2) 24 News has a fan-page on the social-networking website, facebook.com. Viewers can search “24 News Now” on Facebook to become a fan, and see behind the scenes photos, and videos. 3) Using common RSS readers, (Firefox browser, for example) viewers can subscribe to get RSS updates on their desktops throughout the day. 4) 24 News headlines can be sent strait to your e-mail inbox daily. 5) Visit 24newsnow.com on your mobile phone or device to  utilize its easy to use mobile website. 6) Search 24 News Now in iTunes to subscribe to 24 News Podcasts.

The website right now focuses on two main areas of the news: written news stories and video news updated. The stories come from 24 News’ 12+ writing staff, on the top stories you need to know. The video updates – 24 News Brief – are updated periodically hosted by a range of 24 News’ reporting staff. The website averages 7,000 hits each day. Utilizing as many technologies and forms of media possible, 24 News continues to bring you All Your News in One Place.

Broadcast Highlights

• January 2009 – Marcus Harun, Nino Napolitano, and John Curley produced a 20-minute documentary on the new president Barack Obama on Inauguration Day. Also, broadcasted the inauguration live, including a live political- roundup election night.
• December 2008 – 24 News compiled a year-in-review show featuring all the top stories of the year. Also in that month, Marcus was featured on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.
• November 2008 – Marcus reported on election night, breaking the news of President Obama’s victory even before some national news networks. Later that evening Harun was featured on CNN’s election night coverage.
• August 2008 – 24 News covered the Republican and Democratic conventions with ten nights of live broadcasts.
• January- June 2009 24 News covered the presidential primaries like no other student news station. With team coverage from teen reporters from all around the US, 24 News had live political analysis and results each primary night.
• December 2007 – 24 News compiled a year-in-review show featuring all the top stories of the year. Also, Marcus was featured on CNN’s year-in-review.
• July 2007 – Marcus’s political commentary was featured on CNN Headline News.
• January 2007 – Marcus Harun reported in New Haven, CT where the Coliseum was imploded.  \
• November 2006 – Marcus Harun reported from Ned Lamont’s election headquarters as he pulled out of the race for Connecticut senate on election night.

Volunteer

Since 24 News is a non-profit organization, it is run solely by teenage volunteers. 24 News still has some writing and reporting positions available to middle/high school students, 12-20-years- old. To read more about the positions and to download an application, log on to jobs.24newsnow.com .

Contact

To contact 24 News about anything including: adverting opportunities, volunteer positions, news story responses, story suggestions, or anything else you desire; click here to visit our contact page.
To e-mail a certain 24 News staff member: click here.

Thank You!