Challenging Racism Through Media Education
Ottawa, March 21, 2006 – In recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Media Awareness Network (MNet) today encouraged teachers to integrate media and diversity education into the classroom. MNet has developed two media education programs entitled Exploring Media & Race and Deconstructing Online Hate to help educators teach students to think critically about issues relating to racial representation and hateful information they can encounter on the Internet. These professional development programs provide in-depth training to ensure that teachers have powerful tools for teaching about racism and hate.
“March 21st – the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – reminds us of the importance of equipping kids with the critical thinking skills necessary to address the harmful effects of racism and hate,” said Michelle Scarborough, MNet’s Executive Director. “Media education gives young people the tools they need to negotiate meaning from the media and online messages they see and hear each day.”
Exploring Media & Race helps students examine the role that mainstream media plays in shaping our perceptions about race, and understand that all aspects of media productions are created with a purpose, and from a particular perspective. The program also teaches youth about the impact that the representation and portrayal of visible minority groups and Aboriginals on TV, in films, videogames, music videos and advertising can have on their perceptions about others in society.
Deconstructing Online Hate helps students learn to recognize subtle (and overt) bias, racism and hate by showing them how hate mongers operate on the Internet. The program examines the continuum of hate on the Web – from examples of putdown culture, e-mail insults and Web sites that use humour at the expense of others, to online games promoting degradation as entertainment and sites hosted by organized hate groups. Media savvy youth are able to more effectively contextualize what they read or hear online – and to recognize hateful content on Web sites, bulletin boards, chat rooms, blogs, e-mail, games and in music.
These new programs – intended primarily for middle school and secondary teachers – are available on CD-ROM and both include:
- a one-hour professional development workshop with facilitator’s guide
- a self-directed tutorial version of the workshop
- a resource guide
- a series of lesson plans for the classroom with discussion guides, activities and student handouts
Deconstructing Online Hate also includes:
- an interactive student module – Allies and Aliens – with teacher’s guide for Grades 7 and 8
Exploring Media & Race and Deconstructing Online Hate were produced and developed by MNet with the financial support of Canadian Heritage, Multiculturalism Program. Additional information about these two professional development programs is available at: .
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For additional information, contact:
Julien Lavoie
Director of Communications, Media Awareness Network
Telephone: 613-224-7721
About Media Awareness Network – www.media-awareness.ca
MNet is a non-profit Canadian organization whose mission is to support and encourage media and Internet education, and its widest possible integration into Canadian schools, homes and communities. Its aim is to help children and youth to develop an informed and critical understanding of the nature of the media, the techniques used in creating media products and the media’s role and influence within society. MNet is sustained by the generous support of its sponsors and partners, who include: Bell Canada • CHUM Television • Microsoft Canada • Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet • TELUS • CTV Inc. • Canadian Recording Industry Association • National Film Board of Canada • AOL Canada Inc.