MediaSmarts begins anti-prejudice program
By Adnews Staff
MediaSmarts, an Ottawa-based not-for-profit organization foccusing on digital and media literacy, has begun an initiative called “My Voice is Louder Than Hate.” Acccording to the group, the effort uses digital storytelling to encourage young people to respond when they encounter hate speech online. The multimedia initiative is aimed at students between grades nine and 12. It examines ways to respond to prejudice online and allows participants to practice responding in different situations. Users combine images, text, music and narration to make digital stories using humour, when appropriate, to respond to prejudice.
“As digital citizens, we all have a role to play in shaping the norms of our online spaces, and that includes pushing back when we see hate and prejudice,” said Kathryn Ann Hill, executive director of MediaSmarts. “We want to help youth feel empowered online and give educators the tools to help students learn how to respond when they see people or groups being targeted in this way.”