Podcast Election Special #2 - Media Literacy

Fake news!

With the upcoming election on October 21st, our theme for the next few weeks is about literacy and civic engagement.

Continuing this theme today, we are talking about Media Literacy. This week October 7-11th, is Media Literacy Week. This topic is perfect for election season with the flood of advertisements, social media posts and news reports about the election, and the messages that political parties and lobbyists are trying to spread to get your attention. We discuss what is media literacy, why it is essential to read and view with critical and questioning eyes and ears.
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We are speaking with Matthew Johnson, the Director of Education from MediaSmarts and Angelina Leggo from theGaspesie Literacy Council. Our guests give us some insights and tips on developing our Media Literacy. We strengthen our ability to know what are facts and what are misleading messages during this election season and our everyday lives. How do we know what sources to trust?

Literacy Lowdown

​Matthew helped us to define media literacy and why it is so important to develop skills to understand “fake” news and the truth. This year to celebrate Media Literacy Week, MediaSmarts has started Break the Fake campaign, which offers resources to help strengthen our media literacy skills. From Break the Fake’s campaign, below is a great video to get us to start thinking about how easy it is now to make something as absurd as a house hippo seem real. Makes us wonder what else is out there that I assume is real just because it is circulating in the news or on my Facebook feed?  Here are some fact-checking websites: 
factscan.ca and  snopes.com

Member's Moment

In this week’s member’s moment, we are speaking to Angelina Leggo from our member organisation, Gaspesie Literacy Council (GLC). Angelina is working hard to developinfographics that help to explain issues, topics or concepts like Media Literacy. She talks about the connections between the GLC’s work and the importance of developing critical reading and media skills.

Election How-to Special: Advance Voting ​

Feeling inspired?As we mentioned that week, to be able to vote there are a few things to keep in mind

• . you must be a Canadian Citizen and 18 years old or older to vote
• You need to be able to prove your identity and address. See what is accepted by clicking thislink 
• To register or to check to see if you are registered on the National Register of Electors to vote,  your can use the online voter registration service or call 1800-463-6868 or in person at any Elections Canada office until October 15
• You can also register when you go to vote on the 21st of October at your polling station, or during the advance polling days on October 11, 12, 13, 14

Wondering how to vote early?  Here are some Tips from the Elections Canada Website:

1. Vote on advance polling days
Vote at your assigned polling station from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on:

• Friday, October 11
• Saturday, October 12
• Sunday, October 13
• Monday, October 14

To find your advance polling station, check your voter information card or use the Voter Information Service website or phone line, as mentioned. elections.ca/scripts/vis/FindED?L=e&PAGEID=20

2. Vote at any Elections Canada office
There are over 500 Elections Canada offices open across Canada. Vote at any one of them before Tuesday, October 15, 6:00 p.m. You will vote using the special ballot process. Theoffices are open seven days a week. Find the Elections Canada office nearest to you.

3. If you are a student you can  vote  on select campuses across Canada
Vote on select campuses from Saturday, October 5, to Wednesday, October 9, 2019. Find the Vote on Campus office nearest to you. You will vote using the special ballot process.

4. Vote by mail
To vote by mail, apply online or at any Elections Canada office across Canada before Tuesday, October 15, 6:00 p.m. If you live abroad, you can also apply through any Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate. You will vote using the special ballot process.

Source:
​https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=vote&document=index&lang=e

Upcoming Events

• The Learning Exchange will be sponsoring ABC Life Literacy’s Up Skills for Work Series to adult learners https://tleliteracy.com/up-skills-for-work-series/?fbclid=IwAR3MJjtb8Ul6YwuVtBhPdLKWg-pn8yXdnVqDHSw8JggYXtQWKjn9WQTqMxE 
• Western Quebec Literacy Council - E-parent workshops on Digital Literacy Oct 22 and Nov 5 https://www.facebook.com/events/395500908015049/
• Chateauguay Valley Literacy Council (CVLC) - English Language Workshops Oct 8th https://cvlc-chateauguay.weebly.com/community-events.html
• Quebec City Reading Council (QCRC) -  Fall Fest and Travellin' Toddler Time  Oct 18 http://www.qcrc.org/events.html
• LQ at the 2020 Scotiabank Charity Race (April 25-26 2020)

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Every two weeks our hosts Chris Shee and Jaimie Cudmore from Literacy Quebec explore topics around community building, lifelong learning and literacy for English-speakers in Quebec. Want to help out with the podcast? Have a story you want to share? Contact us at admin@literacyquebec.org or call our office (514) 508-6805 or  Toll-Free: 1-855-890-1587