Accessibility guide
How to make a plain-language news podcast (ESL & accessibility)
The day's news in plain, simple language — great for ESL and cognitive accessibility.
Rewrite the day's news into short, plain sentences — automatically, every day, facts intact.
Most news is written for fluent native readers — long sentences, jargon, and assumed context. That leaves out English learners, people with cognitive or reading differences, and anyone who just wants the facts without the noise. A plain-language news podcast meets that audience where they are.
The News in Simple Language template rewrites the day's articles into short sentences with jargon replaced by everyday words, while carefully preserving the facts — names, dates, places, and numbers. In Newsroom mode it can run on a schedule, so a fresh, accessible edition publishes automatically every day or week.
How to make one with Pollinator Studio
- 1
Connect your source
Add article URLs, paste text, or (in Newsroom mode) connect an RSS or WordPress feed so stories arrive automatically.
- 2
Pick the News in Simple Language template
It's preset to rewrite in short, plain sentences and replace jargon — while keeping every fact intact.
- 3
Set your two hosts
The default pairing is Alex and Maya, who hand off stories conversationally so it stays easy to follow.
- 4
Schedule it (Newsroom mode)
Choose daily or weekly runs — articles auto-fetch, dedupe, generate, render, and publish hands-free.
- 5
Review and publish
Skim the plain-language script for accuracy, then publish to your RSS feed for Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.
Make it your own
The News in Simple Language template is ready to use as-is — one click and you're generating. But every part is editable: swap any of the 73 AI voices and set each host's delivery and pace, change the background music, edit the AI script and intro/outro prompts, set the length, and add your own or AI-generated cover art. Adjust the reading level, choose your two hosts, and set how many stories each edition covers.
Prefer to start from scratch? Build your own custom template and save your setup to reuse for every future episode.
Tips for a great accessibility episode
- Short sentences and one idea at a time — that's the whole point of the format.
- Define or replace any jargon the first time it appears.
- Never simplify away the facts: keep names, dates, places, and numbers exact.
- Keep a predictable length and schedule so learners can rely on it as a daily habit.
What you can do with Pollinator Studio
- 100+ ready-made templates — one click to start
- 73 AI voices — preview + per-host delivery & pace
- AI script from a URL, pasted text, or a topic
- 83-track licensed music + transition library
- AI-generated (or upload your own) cover art
- One-click RSS distribution to Spotify, Apple & Amazon
- Schedule daily/weekly auto-generation + auto-publishing from your feed
Try the News in Simple Language template free
30 minutes of audio per month. No credit card, no microphone.
Start freeFrequently asked questions
Is this good for ESL learners?
Yes — that's the core use case. Short sentences, plain words, and a steady pace make the news approachable for English learners and for cognitive accessibility.
Can it run automatically every day?
In Newsroom mode, yes. Connect a feed, set a daily or weekly schedule, and each edition is fetched, written, rendered, and published without manual work.
Does simplifying change the facts?
No. The template rewrites the language but preserves names, dates, places, and numbers — always review before publishing.
Creator or Newsroom edition?
Both. Creators can make one-off accessible episodes; newsrooms can automate a daily plain-language edition on a schedule.
