Difference between revisions of "Media Awareness Network"

Revision as of 22:55, 18 May 2006

From the ChristianMedia.ca Glossary

What is the Media Awareness Network?

Media Awareness Network (MNet) is a Canadian non-profit organization that has been pioneering the development of media literacy programs since its incorporation in 1996. Members of our team have backgrounds in education, journalism, mass communications, and cultural policy. Working out of offices in Ottawa and Montreal, they promote media and Internet education by producing online programs and resources, working in partnership with Canadian and international organizations, and speaking to audiences across Canada and around the world.

The idea behind their work:

MNet’s work is based on the belief that to be functionally literate in the world today – to be able to "read" the messages that inform, entertain and sell to us daily – young people need critical thinking skills.

Their approach

MNet focuses its efforts on equipping adults with information and tools to help young people to understand how the media work, how the media may affect their lifestyle choices and the extent to which they, as consumers and citizens, are being well informed. MNet also provides reference materials for use by adults and youth alike in examining media issues from a variety of peurrspectives.

MNet’s signature programs

• Media education

MNet’s foundation program examines a wide range of media, including television, film, video games, newspapers, advertising and popular music. The Parents section of our site offers tips for talking to kids about the media, and advice on managing media use in the home. The Educators section includes teaching units and supporting materials designed to Canadian provincial media education outcomes for grades K-12. The Media Issues section examines media-related topics such as stereotyping, violence, privacy, marketing to children, the portrayal of diversity in the media, and online hate.

• Web Awareness Canada

MNet began studying the implications of the Internet for young people in 1996, and in 1999 launched Web Awareness Canada. This program uses a unique delivery model based on partnerships with public libraries, the education sector, parent groups, and community organizations.

Its primary focus has been to help bring teachers and librarians up to speed on the issues emerging as young people go online. We’ve done this by licensing workshop tools that can be purchased for professional development. The workshop topics include online safety, protecting personal privacy, authenticating information, and marketing to young people.

• Internet Literacy Resources

Web Awareness Canada is now expanding to include Internet literacy resources designed for use by young people. The innovative You Go Girl in Technology initiative, developed jointly by MNet and Girl Guides of Canada, is an example of this growth in the program’s scope.

Web Awareness Canada is recognized as the public education pillar of the Government of Canada’s Cyberwise Internet awareness strategy.

• Young Canadians In A Wired World research

MNet developed its Young Canadians In A Wired World (YCWW) research program in order to build an extensive database about the role of the Internet in the lives of young people.

• Media education resources

MNet’s award-winning Web site hosts a wide variety of resources including:

• More than 300 lesson plans for educators to use in classrooms
• Professional development resources for librarians and teachers
• Tips, information and practical tools for parents
• An ever-expanding database of articles, research, reports and other reference materials on current and emerging media issues

web site: http://www.media-awareness.ca