“We relay the message of the importance of media to the youth and encourage them to read newspapers and also to write,” says Jacqueline Quéhen, academic delegate for media literacy education, as she presents the actions of CLEMI (Liaison Center for Education and Media Information). The News Media Fortnight in the Nice academy is the highlight of efforts made throughout the school year. March 29, Junior Journalists Day, will be the grand academic celebration of the Press and Media Fortnight. Many journalists will travel to La Garde in Var. Ivan Levai, Christophe Bourseiller, Philippe Val, Jean-Claude Allanic, and Elisabeth Levy have agreed to participate in the JJJ. Conferences and workshops are planned.
In 2006, the press and media week gathered more than four million students from kindergarten to university, 400,000 teachers with the participation of 1,400 media outlets. The same figures are expected to be reached in 2007.
The press and media week highlights the students’ exercises. It’s a reward. Indeed, thanks to partnerships and volunteerism, many journalists come to meet them to discuss their profession and answer questions from middle or elementary school students. “Many students are interested in media but do not know them. With the Press Week, they can understand the profession of a journalist by practicing it themselves or by directly asking professionals,” explains Jean-Claude Hardouin, Academy Rector. Jacqueline Quéhen further emphasizes the importance of this event and media education: “They will understand and analyze the media better. The goal is not for them to become journalists, but rather informed citizens.”
By organizing the press and media week, the National Education proves that it has (finally) recognized the role of media. At the IUFM (University Institute for Teacher Training), only 6% of future teachers receive media training. A three-year plan is put in place to remedy this training deficiency. Teaching schoolchildren to read well and to understand information seems essential. Sources are increasingly numerous and not always reliable, and students must learn to confront and compare them. The press and media week fulfills this role, and such operations would be multiplied if teachers and professors were better trained.
