National Media Education Week 2007 Kicks Off with an "e-Parenting" Theme

November 5, 2007 - (Ottawa) Media Awareness Network (MNet) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) today hosted the opening ceremonies for National Media Education Week 2007 in Ottawa. The goal of the week is to encourage and promote media literacy in Canadian homes, schools and communities.

This year's theme - "e-Parenting" - encourages the active involvement of parents in their children's cyber-world. "Our research clearly shows that parents want to be involved in their children's Internet use," says Cathy Wing, Acting Executive Director of Media Awareness Network. "We also know that parental involvement has a positive effect on kids' online behaviour."

In response to these findings, in 2006 MNet produced and distributed a school-based workshop program - Parenting the Net Generation - with support from Bell and the Canadian Home and School Federation. This year during National Media Education Week 2007, MNet is launching a complimentary French-language program online called, Devenir e-Parent: Un tutoriel pour suivre vos enfants en ligne. Devenir e-Parent was made possible by financial contributions from the Francommunautés virtuelles program at Industry Canada, and Bell.

"Our studies show children learn more effectively and quickly if their parents are involved," says CTF President Emily Noble. "As teachers, we firmly believe in the parent-teacher team approach to lead children safely and intelligently as they surf the Web. We highly praise Media Awareness Network for developing user-friendly workshops and this tutorial for parents. We certainly believe these tools will go a long way in bridging the gap of information between youth and adults."

MNet research shows that:

• 91% of parents believe it is their responsibility to teach their children how to use popular media
• 89% of parents strongly agree it is important for young people to learn how to use the Internet safely, wisely and responsibly
• 99% of Canadian teachers and teacher-librarians strongly agree that children and young people should learn critical thinking skills about the media

"While the Internet is a great communications medium with social and economic benefits for Canadians, we know that our children need special guidance about the benefits and dangers of the Internet," said Member of Parliament Royal Galipeau (Ottawa-Orleans) on behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry. "Industry Canada is proud to have assisted this project with a contribution of $151,255 from the Francommunautés virtuelles program to ensure that Canadians have access to tools that they need in both official languages. This reflects the government's commitment to the quality of life in our French-language communities."

This month media literacy activities are unfolding in schools and communities across Canada - Kananaskis, Alberta, for example, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and Osoyoos, British Columbia. (See more events at www.mediaeducationweek.ca/en/involved_events.htm). In addition, teacher and parent organizations - the Canadian Home and School Federation, La Commission Nationale des Parents Francophones and Éducation internationale, to name three - are showing support for National Media Education Week 2007 through e-Parenting events, print and online articles and Web links.

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

Canadian Teachers' Federation (http://www.ctf-fce.ca/) 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 as well as an Affiliate Member in Ontario.

For more information visit www.mediaeducationweek.ca or contact:

Cathy Wing, Acting Executive Director - Media Awareness Network. (613) 224-7721 ext. 227
(cwing@media-awareness.ca)

Francine Filion, Director of Communications - Canadian Teachers' Federation. (613) 688-4314
(ffili@ctf-fce.ca)

National Media Education Week 2007 Sponsors:

Devenir e-Parent was made possible by financial contributions from the Francommunautés virtuelles program at Industry Canada and Bell Canada.