Fair Media Council Creates Recognition Program for Teachers

(Long Island, N.Y.) The Fair Media Council is unveiling a new program designed to recognize 4th to 6th grade teachers who are using news and promoting media literacy inside their classrooms.
 
“Media literacy is a critical skill for children to develop,” said Jaci Clement, executive director of the Fair Media Council. “Media literacy promotes deductive reasoning and critical thinking, and engages kids in their local communities, leading to the creation of good citizens. Plus, reading and writing skills are stressed, which is particularly important in schools with a multicultural student population.”
 
Teachers may download the Media Savvy Teacher program forms at www.fairmediacouncil.org. To be eligible to enter, teachers must teach 4th, 5th or 6th graders anywhere in the United States. Entries must explain the idea or concept behind the program, how the concept was implemented and how results were measured. Entries are due by June 15, 2009, and will be judged by community leaders. Winners will be recognized with the Fair Media Council designating the winning school as a Fair Media Council Media Savvy School. Additionally, winning entries will be compiled into an online idea bank for teachers around the country.
 
The Fair Media Council is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that advocates for quality local news coverage and educates the public on issues affecting local news coverage.  To join the 200-plus New York businesses that are members of the Fair Media Council, log onto www.fairmediacouncil.org.

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