Media Advisory - News Gathering in the Digital Age

A panel discussion to launch Media Literacy Week 2009

OTTAWA , Oct. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - To mark the start of Canada's 4th annual Media Literacy Week (November 2-6), the Media Awareness Network (MNet), the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) and Encounters with Canada , a program of the Historica-Dominion Institute, are hosting a panel discussion on the impact of digital media on journalism and news gathering in the 21st century. The event will take place in Ottawa on November 2, 2009 .

Media Literacy Week encourages parents, educators and community leaders to integrate and practice media and digital literacy in their homes, schools and communities. The theme of this year's week - Media Literacy in the Digital Age - emphasizes the multiple literacy skills needed by today's children and youth as they access, evaluate, repurpose, create and distribute digital media content.

Panelists will discuss how digital media are changing the face of journalism and news gathering: from citizen journalism to the impact of Web 2.0 tools such as YouTube, Twitter and blogs. Students from across Canada , who are participating in the Encounters with Canada youth forum, will participate in the discussion.

The event will take place on Monday, November 2, 2009 .

    
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    Time:      10:30 to 10:40 AM: Opening remarks
               10:40 to 11:30 AM: Panel discussion
               11:30 to 12:00 PM: Refreshments
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    Location:  Crowne Plaza Hotel, Richelieu Room
               101 Lyon St N
               Ottawa, ON
               K1R 5T9
               Map (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=101+Lyon+St+N)
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    Moderator: Daniel Bouchard, news anchor for Radio-Canada and
               communications professor at the University of Ottawa
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    Panelists: Andrew Cohen, award-winning journalist, best-selling author
               and President of the Historica-Dominion Institute
               Scott Rubin, head of policy communications at YouTube
               Roger Dubois, videojournalist for CBC.ca
               Althia Raj, National Bureau reporter for Sun Media
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Media Awareness Network (MNet) is a Canadian not-for-profit centre of expertise in media and digital literacy. Its vision is to ensure children and youth possess the necessary critical thinking skills and tools to understand and actively engage with media.(http://www.media-awareness.ca/)

Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) represents close to 200,000 Canadian teachers across the country. For nearly 90 years, CTF has advanced the cause of children, defended the rights of teachers and promoted a strong public education system. Further, they have championed the increase and strengthening of the practice of media education in Canadian classrooms. (http://www.ctf-fce.ca/)

Encounters with Canada , a program of the Historica-Dominion Institute, is Canada's largest youth forum that has been offering exceptional Canadian youth programming for over 25 years. Over 81,000 youth from across Canada have lived the once-in-a-lifetime Encounters with Canada experience so far. (http://www.ewc-rdc.ca)

    
    Media Literacy Week 2009 sponsors:

    Gold:     YouTube

    Silver:   Bell Canada and ESA Entertainment Software

    Bronze:   Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association and OpenText

    Funder:   Government of Canada
    

For further information: Ann Marie Paquet, Communications Officer, Media Awareness Network, [phone], ext. 231, [email protected]; Francine Filion, Director of Communications, Canadian Teachers' Federation, [phone] or [phone] (cell.), [email protected]; Jacinthe Benoit, Director of Communications, Encounters with Canada, a program of the Historica-Dominion Institute, [phone], ext. 224, [email protected]