Media Literacy Week

Communiqués de presse

November 5, 2010 - Media Literacy Week kicked off nationwide earlier this week by highlighting the need for parents, educators and youth to talk about the ways that gender is portrayed in media and how this can influence young people’s perceptions of themselves and others.

“Teachers see first-hand how media and information technology influence the manner in which students interact with each other and how they view the world around them. Media Literacy Week is an opportunity for teachers to discuss with and engage young people so they can become literate in the understanding of visual images and media messages,” says Canadian Teacher’s Federation (CTF) President Mary-Lou Donnelly.

For the past five years, Media Literacy Week has promoted the integration of media literacy activities in communities, schools and families across Canada. The week underscores the importance of nurturing critical thinking skills in youth to help them understand and effectively navigate their media-rich world.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), in partnership with the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA), encourages schools to host a Parenting the NET Generation workshop for parents and guardians throughout the month of November. The workshop aims to give parents and guardians the tools to become Internet savvy and keep pace with their children’s online activities. ECE and the NWTTA are giving away 10 Kobo e-Readers as draw prizes for participating parents and guardians.

“Media, especially the Internet, plays a powerful role in the lives of youth,” says Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Jackson Lafferty. “We need to help young people gain the skills and knowledge to ensure that their interactions with media are positive and enriching, and we need to make sure parents have the tools to keep up with, and understand, their children’s online activities. Media Literacy Week reminds us how important these skills are for our kids.”

For information on other events happening across the country, visit the Media Literacy Week website at www.medialiteracyweek.ca.

For more information, contact:

Ashley Green
Public Affairs Officer
Education, Culture and Employment
Phone: (867) 920-3059