Media Literacy Week starts today, theme "Fact or Fake: Help the World Stop Misinformation in Its Tracks"

OTTAWA, Nov. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - The 13th annual Media Literacy Week officially kicks off today!

Media Literacy Week was unofficially launched on Friday November 2, with an event held at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. Hosted by MediaSmarts and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF), students from Historica Canada's Encounters with Canada program attended the launch, and had the opportunity to hear from and engage with representatives from Facebook, Twitter and The Toronto Star on their efforts to fight the spread of false information online. This year, for the first time, the launch was also livestreamed on Facebook. Students, teachers and media literacy advocates across Canada were invited to watch the event and participate by submitting questions for the panelists. The launch event can be viewed on the MediaSmarts Facebook page.

Media Literacy Week, which runs this year from November 5 to 9, invites participants to address the theme of "Fact or Fake: Help the World Stop Misinformation in Its Tracks". Teachers and students, libraries and museums, and community groups across the country are engaging in activities to address the challenge of authenticating information.

"We know it is critical that everyone engage in this conversation about separating fact from fiction," says Kathryn Hill, Executive Director of MediaSmarts. "We all have a role to play in developing our digital literacy skills and learning more about the importance of authenticating the information we share."

"In an increasingly connected world, it is crucial that our children are equipped with the media literacy skills needed to decipher online information," says H. Mark Ramsankar, President of the CTF. "Our teachers are dedicated to helping students become critical thinkers, allowing them to better navigate the digital domain and become well-informed citizens."

Media Literacy Week is an annual event co-hosted by MediaSmarts and the CTF that highlights the importance of teaching children and teens digital and media literacy skills. Over 70 collaborating organizations across the country are participating in this year's Media Literacy Week by organizing activities ? including workshops and webinars ? and promoting media literacy.

This project has been made possible (in part) by the Government of Canada.

MediaSmarts and the CTF are grateful for the support of the following: Platinum Sponsors TELUS and Facebook; Gold Sponsors YouTube, Twitter and Bell; Silver Sponsor the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association; Bronze Sponsors The Alberta Teachers' Association, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario; as well as our 2018 Associate Sponsors. 

For more information, visit medialiteracyweek.ca and follow #MediaLitWk on social media.

About MediaSmarts

MediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. @MediaSmarts

About the CTF

Founded in 1920, the Canadian Teachers' Federation is a non-profit organization and a national alliance of provincial and territorial Member organizations that represent over 265,000 teachers across Canada. @CanTeachersFed

SOURCE Canadian Teachers' Federation