Sky News At 20 Years Old

80 stories in video, text and pictures

At 6pm on 05 February 2009 Sky News will be 20 years old.

From Monday 02 February visitors to skynews.com/20 will be able to explore a video history of the biggest news stories of the last 20 years. The microsite will have news clips, in-depth reports from Sky News specialists and a comment section.

Visitors can post their thoughts about where they were when they heard a particular news story or how it has affected them or their families – for example, the attacks on the twin towers, the death of Princess Diana, the plight of the Thames Whale.

Deputy Head of News and Managing Editor of Sky News, Simon Cole, and his ‘Magnetic Memories’ will also feature as an interactive page on the site. Simon has more than 300 magnets brought back from Sky News staff abroad.

The tradition began when Simon inherited a fridge used on location during Wimbledon week in 1999. Sitting back in his Sky News office in Osterley someone put a magnet on it…the fridge is now a whole door full of magnets, each one with an intriguing local story attached to it!

Books across the globe

Copies of the Sky News book are being sent across the world, and their journeys will be captured through pictures, videos and comments on skynews.com/20. Initially the books are being left in key public spots by Sky News’ correspondents at home and abroad.

The books will appear from London to Beijing, Johannesburg to Washington – and Sky News will collect thoughts from people around the world on the big stories from the last 20 years.

Virtual Newsroom

Sky News’ virtual newsroom, an interactive tool for media students and anyone interested in finding out more about how Sky News works behind the scenes, has been updated for the 20th anniversary and will go live from Thursday 5 February at http://www.jointhebiggerpicture.com/Learning/SkyVirtualNewsroom/landing.aspx