Media Advisory - With grant from Google Canada, Canadian Journalism Foundation and CIVIX partner to develop news literacy program NewsWise Français
TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2017 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and CIVIX are pleased to announce NewsWise, a news literacy program made possible with $500,000 in funding from Google Canada.
With the aim of tackling the issue of fake news, the CJF and CIVIX will work together to provide over 1.5 million school-aged Canadians (ages 9-19) a deeper understanding of the role journalism plays in democracy.
"Fake news accelerates distrust in our institutions, including distrust of the trained media who spend so much time trying to hold the powerful to account," says David Walmsley, chair of the CJF and editor of The Globe and Mail.
"If we're going to foster trust in journalism, we need to reach the next generation of news consumers and ensure they understand the role journalism plays in our society. This initiative provides an arena to engage a younger audience and to ensure they're equipped with the skills to identify reliable sources of information."
NewsWise will be developed by CIVIX, the organization behind Student Vote, and CJF's network of academics and journalists. The program will be a part of the Student Vote activities, rolling out to coincide with the Ontario provincial election in 2018, and other upcoming local and provincial elections, culminating nationally with the 2019 federal election.
"Access to reliable news sources is critical to fully engaging in the democratic process," says Taylor Gunn, President and CEO of CIVIX. "Giving young Canadians an understanding of the role journalism plays in our society and the knowhow to find and filter information is essential in nurturing an informed citizenry for the long term."
The Student Vote program reaches 7,500 schools in the country, representing 98 per cent of Canadian school boards. Showcasing the role journalism plays in a healthy democracy, the program will provide Canadian students with the tools and knowledge to find and filter accurate information online. CJF will engage Canada's journalism community in supporting the delivery of the program.
About The Canadian Journalism Foundation
Founded in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes excellence in journalism by celebrating outstanding journalistic achievement. Our signature events include an annual awards program featuring a must-attend annual industry gala where Canada's top newsmakers meet Canada's top news people. Through J-Talks, our popular speaker's series, we facilitate dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research.
About CIVIX
CIVIX is a national registered charity dedicated to building the habits of active and engaged citizenship among young Canadians. CIVIX provides experiential learning opportunities to help young Canadians practice their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and connect with their democratic institutions. Student Vote, the flagship program of CIVIX, is a parallel election for students under the voting age coinciding with official elections. In the 2015 federal election, 922,000 elementary and secondary students cast a Student Vote ballot from approximately half of all schools in Canada.
SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation
For inquiries: Natalie Turvey, Executive Director, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, 416-955-0396, [email protected]; Taylor Gunn, President and CEO, CIVIX, 1-866-488-8775, [email protected]
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