The following is a 29 March 2000 WAN press release: Paris, 29 March 2000 For immediate release Press Freedom in the Schools The World Association of Newspapers has created a package of classroom exercises to help children understand how freedom of expression — or the lack of it — affects their lives. The materials, which […]
The following is a 29 March 2000 WAN press release:
Paris, 29 March 2000
For immediate release
Press Freedom in the Schools
The World Association of Newspapers has created a package of classroom exercises to help children understand how freedom of expression — or the lack of it — affects their lives.
The materials, which are part of a major campaign to encourage newspapers to promote World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, are intended for use in Newspapers in Education programmes world-wide on or around that day.
The kit contains exercises linked to newspapers which illustrate issues related to press freedom and, more generally, freedom of expression. One, for example, asks children to identify which freedoms are involved in a series of photographs.
Another exercise asks children to study and discuss a map showing the state of freedom around the world. A third proposes that they should monitor freedom of expression stories in their local newspapers and create their own “freedom” front page.
The materials (in English, French, German and Spanish) can be downloaded from special World Press Freedom Day pages on the WAN web site (www.wan-press.org/3may). They are also available by e-mail on request to pcarsten@wan.asso.fr.
The Paris-based WAN and the World Editors Forum are providing a package of editorial and advertising materials to thousands of newspapers world-wide for publication on 3 May . The materials include political cartoons, essays by journalists and writers on press freedom at the turn of the century, information and infographics on murdered and jailed journalists, as well as a selection of public service advertisements about press freedom (these materials are also available from the WAN web site and by e-mail).
“WAN has had great success in raising awareness about the lack of press freedom in many countries through such materials. We think we can be even more effective if we extend the campaign to young readers. The future of press freedom is their future,” said Aralynn McMane, Director of Educational Programmes at WAN.
“These materials have been designed with World Press Freedom Day in mind, but they can also be used in classrooms independently of this campaign,” she said. “They can be used throughout the year.” WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. Membership includes 63 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 93 countries, 17 news agencies and seven regional and world-wide press groups. In all, WAN represents 17,000 newspapers.
