Celebrate Canada's Second Annual National Media Education Week

Ottawa, June 29, 2007 - Media Awareness Network (MNet) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) are partnering for the second consecutive year to present National Media Education Week, November 5-9, 2007. The purpose of the week is to promote media literacy as a key component in the education of young people, and to encourage the integration of media education into Canadian schools, homes, and communities.

Many children today spend more time interacting with media than they do attending school. While young people are immersed in media environments—watching, reading, listening, interacting, and creating—they are learning about the world and forming perceptions of themselves and others. This “informal” learning is happening largely without adult guidance or critical reflection. In order to be literate today, young people need to develop a whole range of critical thinking, communication and information management skills to apply to their use of media—and media education is an essential tool in helping them acquire these skills.

The partners in this initiative are long-time supporters of media education in Canada. The Media Awareness Network is a leading provider of media literacy programs and resources for education and awareness. MNet also conducts Canada’s largest research project on children’s Internet use: Young Canadians in a Wired World. The Canadian Teachers’ Federation, through its landmark study Kids’ Take on Media, has educated teachers and the public about the important role media play in the lives of children and youth.

MNet and CTF are working with teacher and media education organizations, libraries, and community, parent and youth-based groups to develop and promote a wide range of activities in support of National Media Education Week 2007. These activities include parent information sessions, student contests, media fairs, panel discussions, professional development workshops, and conference presentations.

Mark your calendar – November 5-9 – and plan a media education activity for your classroom, community, or home.

For more information on how you can take part in National Media Education Week 2007, visit the Web site at: www.mediaeducationweek.ca or contact Media Awareness Network at: info@media-awareness.ca.

Media Awareness Network is a Canadian not-for-profit centre of expertise and excellence in media education. Its vision is to ensure children and youth possess the necessary critical thinking skills and tools to understand and actively engage with media.

CTF speaks for 220,000 teachers in Canada as their national voice on education and related social issues. CTF membership includes Member organizations in every province and territory in Canada. CTF (www.ctf-fce.ca) is also a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (www.ei-ie.org).

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Cathy Wing, Acting Executive Director, Media Awareness Network, 613-224-7721 ext. 227
Linda Hiles, Interim Director of Communications, Canadian Teachers' Federation, 613-232-1505 ext. 130