Welcome to the Web site of the Media Awareness Network (MNet), home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of media education and Internet literacy resources. This section is intended to introduce you to our organization and its work.
What is MNet?
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, we 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 our 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.
Our 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 perspectives.
MNet’s signature programs
With the support of government, leading communications companies, and our partners in the education, library and non-profit sectors, MNet has developed three core programs offered on its Web site in English and French:
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.
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.
We’re proud that 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. The initial phase included three components:
- A parent survey (2000): Telephone interviews with more than a thousand Canadian parents about their perceptions of their children’s Internet use, the benefits and risks associated with the Internet, and measures for addressing issues of safety and inappropriate online content.
- Focus groups (2000): Qualitative research to further explore some findings from the parent survey, and to identify key issues to be included in the subsequent survey of students.
- A student survey (2001): A national written survey of almost 6,000 Canadian students, detailing their use of the Internet.
A second phase of this research is in the planning stages.
Some of MNet’s 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
Our sponsors, members and partners
MNet’s programs are funded primarily through the contributions of private sector sponsors and the Government of Canada, with additional support from the annual memberships of individuals, non-profit organizations and small businesses.
To deliver our programs, MNet is extremely fortunate to be working in partnership with some of Canada’s leading education, library and community organizations also committed to helping children and youth to become media literate. Our partners include the Canadian Library Association, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, and the Girl Guides of Canada.
How to contact us
At MNet, we appreciate hearing from anyone who uses our Web site, teaching units, workshops and programs. Please give us your feedback – let us know what you think, how you use the resources, and if you have any questions.
Please also feel free to contact us with any additional information or material you think we should have, in order to keep our site and other resources as current and relevant as possible. No matter where you are on our Web site, you can send us a message by clicking on the Contact link in the top menu bar.
In the meantime, to find out more about the Media Awareness Network, click on one of the links in the right sidebar of this page.
