The partnership's first project will be to promote Constitution Day on September 16th, when educators nationwide will teach about the nation's most important document. Channel One, which reaches more than 30 percent of American teens, will call attention to the free lessons and teaching materials available for the day through use of an engaging mix of broadcast and online content targeted to teens and educators.
"Three of four high school students either don't know about or don't care about the First Amendment," said Alberto Ibarguen, KnightFoundation president and CEO
Channel One and Knight Foundation Join to Help Groups Promote National Constitution Day and Appreciation for the First Amendment
25.08.2005 13:27:00
Channel One, the preeminent news and public affairscontent provider reaching almost eight million students in nearly12,000 middle schools and high schools, is partnering with the John S.and James L. Knight Foundation, one of the nation's largest privatefoundations and a promoter of journalism excellence, to increasestudents' awareness of the rights and freedoms of the First Amendment.
The partnership's first project will be to promote ConstitutionDay on September 16th, when educators nationwide will teach about thenation's most important document. Channel One, which reaches more than30 percent of American teens, will call attention to the free lessonsand teaching materials available for the day through use of anengaging mix of broadcast and online content targeted to teens andeducators.
"Three of four high school students either don't know about ordon't care about the First Amendment," said Alberto Ibarguen, KnightFoundation president and CEO. "If our nation is to be governed well bythe coming generations, that sad statistic must change."
Channel One's line up of dedicated content will include specialprogramming via Channel One News, on channelone.com and through ipoddownloads. Access to teaching resources and lesson plans, polls, andQ&A with experts on the Constitution will supplement the programming.Knight Foundation's educational resource, teachfirstamendment.org,provides access to free lesson plans, teaching guides and other usefultools to make it easy for high school teachers and administrators tobring the First Amendment into classrooms. Now underway, the combinedefforts of this partnership will lead into the first ever nationwidecelebration of Constitution Day.
"Our mission is to align with foundations and philanthropiesequally committed to empowering and inspiring teens inside and beyondthe classroom," said Judy L. Harris, president and CEO of Channel One."Knight Foundation has built an admirable legacy in helping to promoteexcellence in journalism and spreading an appreciation of the FirstAmendment is imperative in reaching that objective. We're excited tocome together and educate on such a tremendous subject."
For resources, links and information on the Constitution, visitwww.channelone.com or www.teachfirstamendment.org.
Knight Foundation grantees and partners in support of more FirstAmendment education in America's schools include: the Campaign CivicMission of Schools, the Student Press Law Center, the American Societyof Newspaper Editors, the Radio and Television News DirectorsFoundation, the Bill of Rights Institute, J-Ideas at Ball StateUniversity and the Freedom Forum's First Amendment Schools project.
Beyond September 16th, Channel One and the Knight Foundation willcollaborate and identify new opportunities in support of journalisticexcellence among our nation's teens.
Now in its 15th year of broadcasting, Peabody Award-winningChannel One News is the leading source of news and information foryoung people. The 12-minute news broadcasts are delivered daily.Channel One News and its award-winning Web site, www.channelone.com,feature stories on breaking news and relevant issues that affect theworld, the nation and, specifically, America's teenagers.
About Channel One
A PRIMEDIA (PRM) company in its 15th year of broadcasting, PeabodyAward-winning Channel One is the preeminent news and public affairscontent provider reaching almost eight million teens in nearly 12,000middle schools and high schools across the country. In recent months,Channel One News has covered fast-breaking world events from regionssuch as Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Cuba,Venezuela, North Korea, Myanmar, and Qatar. Channel One Newsprogramming has been featured on leading networks and news programs,including CNN, ABC News, the WB, Nightline, and The Today Show. Visitthe Webby Award-winning website www.channelone.com to learn more.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide andinvests in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities. Since 1950, thefoundation has approved more than $260 million in journalism grants.For more information, visit www.knightfdn.org.
