Literacies for the 21st Century MNet Recognizes CHUM Support

Ottawa, March 8, 2005 – The Media Awareness Network (MNet) today recognized and thanked CHUM Limited for its $250,000 support of MNet. This support will contribute to MNet’s Literacies for the 21st Century policy initiative and program. Comments were made at a joint MNet and CHUM luncheon event in Ottawa to launch the initiative.

This support emanates from the recent allocation of tangible benefits, as approved by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), during the transfer of effective control of Craig Media Inc. to CHUM Limited. Literacies for the 21st Century will provide a unique Canadian road-map for addressing media-related issues for young people and further entrench media literacy in Canada.

“Media literacy has become one of the basic literacies of our times, in league with the traditional literacies of reading, writing and numeracy,” said Michelle Scarborough, MNet Executive Director. “CHUM is recognized for its support of media education in Canada and we are grateful for its vital and timely contribution to this new program,” she added.

“We are pleased to play a role in supporting this important initiative and the excellent work of MNet,” said Sarah Crawford, CHUM Vice-President, Public Affairs and MNet Board Member. “Through this support, CHUM continues to help provide tools and resources that enable young people to acquire critical thinking skills and knowledge of the media.”

Literacies for the 21st Century is a five-year initiative, consisting of a policy framework, a series of media education professional development programs and classroom resources, grounded in research. The first topics addressed in this program are Deconstructing Online Hate and Exploring Media and Race. Also addressed will be gender stereotyping, media violence, media and health and media portrayals of Aboriginal Peoples. Pilot testing will be done in Alberta and Manitoba with educators including Métis and Aboriginals.

On November 19, 2004, in decision 2004-502, the CRTC approved an application by CHUM, on behalf of Craig Media Inc., to transfer effective control of Craig to CHUM. The CRTC also approved provisions for the allocation of public benefits to various social benefits and talent development including media education.

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For additional information, contact:
Julien Lavoie Director of Communications, Media Awareness Network
Telephone: 613-224-7721

About Media Awareness Network — Media Awareness Network (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. Our 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’s programs are funded primarily by our public and private sector sponsors and partners, who include: Bell Canada • Shaw Communications Inc. • CHUM Television • Microsoft Canada • Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet • TELUS • CTV Inc. • Canadian Recording Industry Association • AOL Canada Inc. • National Film Board of Canada • BCE Inc. • CanWest Global • Alberta Learning • Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse • Canadian Heritage • Canadian Library Association Canadian Teachers' Federation • CANARIE Inc. • Commission scolaire des Affluents • De Marque, inc. • Health Canada • Human Resources and Skills Development Canada • Industry Canada • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) • Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Film Classification • Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada • University of Montreal