A&E Sponsors Canadian Media Awareness Network National awareness mission in line with A&E's educational efforts

Toronto, January 30, 2001 - A&E Television Networks announced its sponsorship of the Media Awareness Network (MNet) today, to help promote and support media education in Canadian schools, homes and communities though MNet's world-class Internet site.

Funds provided by A&E will contribute to MNet's commitment to providing teachers and educators with teaching units, student handouts and activity ideas for bringing media into the classroom; and providing parents with practical tools and advice for managing media use (including Internet use) in the home.

As a sponsor, A&E will have a presence on the MNet Internet site, www.media-awareness.ca. Users will be able to click on the A&E logo for further educational resources such as information on A&E Classroom curriculum and the annual A&E Canadian Teacher Grant and Canadian Biography of the Year Essay contests along with A&E programming information.

Established in 1995 when the Internet was emerging as an ideal vehicle for sharing information, ideas and resources, MNet has since created one of the largest educational sites in Canada providing curriculum-related media and Web literacy teaching materials for schools and awareness resources for community organizations.

"A&E supports the mandate of MNet 100 per cent," said Shelley Blaine Goodman, Vice-President, A&E Canada. "We recognize the importance of educating young people about the wide and influencing reach of media of every form."

"We are extremely happy to welcome A&E as a sponsor," said Jan D'Arcy, Co-Director, Media Awareness Network. "A&E is an exemplary broadcaster in their efforts to employ television and Internet media in an educational and useful way, and this is a natural fit with the work being done by the Media Awareness Network."

The A&E Canadian Teacher Grant is an extension of A&E Classroom, which was established to provide educators with quality educational information designed to enhance teaching and learning within the classroom. It matches A&E productions with the curriculum needs of schools through commercial-free cable programming on literature, performing arts, history, biography and more. Programming is complemented by A&E Study Guides, which identify curriculum and grade appropriateness.

The Canadian Biography® of the Year Essay Contest calls on grade 5-12 students to write a 250 word essay on who they believe has made the biggest impact on Canadian society in 2001 - positive or negative. Students compete in two categories: grades 5-8 and grades 9-12. The grand prize for each category includes a $5,000 Canadian savings bond for the winning student, $1,000 for the school department and a television, VCR and collection of classic A&E videos for the school of the winning student.

The Media Awareness Network is a national non-profit organization promoting and supporting media education in Canadian homes, school and communities. In 1997, MNet pioneered the concept of Web literacy as an essential literacy for the 21st century. Since then, the Media Awareness Network has become a world leader in Web literacy initiatives.

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For more information, contact:

Jan D'Arcy
Media Awareness Network
Tel: (613) 224-6892

Roisin McGlynn / Kelly Slade Temple
Scott Associates
Tel: (416) 360-6183, ext. 231/ 223