16 - Wednesday, February 23, 1994 - North Shore News "

HELP’S AT HAND

Media watchdog
helpful

- groups

HELP'S AT Hand, by North Shore
Community Services (NSCS), is a
forum for discussing government
policies and programs, benefits.
consumer and legal rights, taxation
and public services. Answers are
intended only.as a general guide
‘and should not be upplicd to indi-

_ vidual cases without further consul-
tation. ;
QUESTION: I really don’t
approve of advertising and media
images. that degrade women.
Media is so powerful and I think
these images can have a negative
impact on: attitudes towards
women, and can even perpetuate
violence...

- What can people who feel this
way do to speak out? -

ANSWER: If you want to com-
ment.on something you have seen
in the media, there are a number of
organizations and decision-makers
you can ‘contact.

These contacts will also apply. fo”
concerns that you have abouf vio-
lence in the media, unfair depiction

- of-minority. groups, or anything else -
“cs that you find irresponsible.

The: Canadian Radio-Television
and Telecommunications: (CRTC) |
is an-independent agency of the

“.. Canadian government that regulates

--and supervises TV, radio, cable and: .

pay-TV. A: letter can be sent tothe

“CRTC c/o Broadcast: Coordination,
~, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A ON2.

The. Canadian Advertising |

~ Foundation (CAF) is an association

“of advertisers, ‘agencies and media.

They develop and administer indus: °

“try standards and ‘codes of ethics
including: sex-role stereotyping
’ guilelines. Write’to CAF,:Advisory

Division, 350 Bloor, Street. East,”
Suite. 402, ‘Toronto, Ontario; M4W

2: TMS
n- ‘addition, it is effective to
--write-directly to the radio or TV
station:: You can ‘find the addresses
: of ‘local stations: ‘in.,the yellow
‘pages. nr ;
‘Af the: offeasive material i is print-
“-édin'a ‘Newspaper or magazine, you -

can choose: to: write to the editor”

‘and/or: publisher of the publication
itself, or. to the press council that
he | newspaper belongs to. In B.C.,

iwrite to the B.C. Press Council at-

P.O. Box'3596, Vancouver.

. Media Watch, the national non-

ron organization that examines
the representation and portrayal of
women and girls in the media, has
“” some very helpful, suggestions for

66 /t is effective to
remind the recipient
of your complaint
of what is at stake
— your subscrip-
tion or patronage
for example. $9

Make your criticism construc-
tively. Focus criticism on the issue,
not the organization or the individ-
oual.

“Your opinion is more likely to_

“be respected if you are respectful
yourself,

Also, if you can think of an °

‘alternalive representation ‘or

‘approach that you would find _

: acceptable, describe it.

. recipient of your complaint. of what
is at stake — your subscription, or
your patronage, for example.

Be sure to identify yourself arid ,

‘ask for a response from them.
Follow up yourself if necessary, -

Remember that it is also impor-
tant to recognize positive portray-
cals.
_ .In addition to sending copies of
‘your letters to the CAF, CRTC and
MediaWatch, ask yourself who else
might be interested, such as your
Member of Parliament or Member
of the Legislative Assembly, adver-
tisers, or community groups.

To receive an “Objection Letter.
Writing Guide,”

Suite 204-517 Wellington St. West,
‘Toronto, Ontario, M5V IGI, or cail
their loca! number at 688-44 12.
“Keep in mind that the focal
office is operated by volunteer

labor only, so leave a message and -

-your inquiry should be acknow1-
edged within a few days. /
MediaWatch has an active local
volunteer network und operates a
‘speaker's bureau. Contact them for
-more information. ;
The Media Foundation at 736-

~ 9401 in Vancouver refers to itself

It is effective to remind the

write. to the’
MediaWatch national office at-

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Among them, they say to write

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reader: to be open to your point of

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This column is prepared with
financial assistance from the
Notary Foundation. For more
‘information call NSCS at 985-7138.

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ately. “you want the reader
to: respect your view. and take
: action. .

Under the Government of Canada's
summer employment program for students,
organizations of all kinds are eligible to apply
for funding assistance that SUPpoOrts the
creation of summer jobs.

Apply now through your focal Canada
Employment Centre — listed under Employment
and Immigration Canada in the

_ blue pages of your —
telephone book.

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APPUCATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH:41, 1994
“Note: The deadline may very. Please contact your local Conada Employment Centre for fur ber detcils, +
By
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Human Resources
Development Canada

Développement des . :
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iv