NEW YORK, NY (January 9, 2006) — Channel One and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced the launch of the ‘1Voice’ campaign on ChannelOneNetwork.com, Channel One’s online resource for teachers. 1Voice is a multi-media, national campaign aimed at raising teens’ understanding and appreciation of the personal freedoms guaranteed them by America’s First Amendment. Recently, 1Voice also launched on ChannelOne.com, a vibrant Web community visited each month by more than 400,000 teens looking for anytime access to breaking news, current events and topics of interest.
In October 2006, Channel One and the Knight Foundation announced the upcoming launch of a creative educational campaign that would include a mix of Channel One broadcast programming, ChannelOne.com programming, public service announcements, student events, and instructional materials and resources for educators centered on issues related to the First Amendment. The three-year program commenced this month and is funded with a Knight Foundation grant of $2.25 million.
“While many of the programs that we have planned regarding the First Amendment will certainly pique teens’ and teachers’ interest, 1Voice is designed to open the door for further conversation and exploration on a subject matter that is of critical importance,” said Judy L. Harris, president and CEO of Channel One. “It is our responsibility as an unbiased news resource to push the envelope on educating American Students on their rights and freedoms and to ensure that the First Amendment is no longer taken for granted by so many. We continue to create powerful forums for students and teachers to learn, discuss and debate one of the cornerstones of this country.”
Eric Newton, Vice President of Knight’s Journalism Program added, “Teaching the First Amendment is the first step to preparing tomorrow’s citizens. We don’t see it as an educational elective, but rather something teachers, parents and students themselves need to be sure is happening.”
ChannelOne.com and ChannelOneNetwork.com have quickly become popular destinations for both teachers and teens. ChannelOne.com offers teens an opportunity to learn via breaking news headlines, features and interactive quizzes. ChannelOneNetwork.com offers teachers free and timely, in-class tools, such as lesson plans that tie in to the First Amendment, as well as PowerPoint decks and one-act plays teachers can download and use as in-class activities to engage students in learning about the real-world application of their rights and personal freedoms.
Many of the 1Voice teaching tools available to educators at ChannelOneNetwork.com were developed by Sam Chaltain, a former history teacher and the founding director of the Five Freedoms Project, an organization that helps school leaders use democratic processes to create more equitable, collaborative environments in which to work and learn. “Channel One and Knight,” said Chaltain, “recognize that the ideal places to practice the rights and responsibilities of citizenship are our nation’s public schools, the institutions originally founded to ensure that each new generation of Americans acquires the civic skills necessary to sustain our national commitment to democracy and freedom.”
About Channel One
Peabody and Webby award-winning Channel One is the preeminent news and public affairs content provider reaching more than 7 million teens in middle schools and high schools across the country, nearly 30 percent of teenagers in the U.S. In recent months, Channel One News has covered fast-breaking world events from regions such as Iraq , Kuwait , Afghanistan , Thailand , Sri Lanka , Jordan , Cuba , Venezuela , North Korea , Myanmar , and Qatar . Channel One News programming has been featured on leading networks and news programs, including CNN, ABC News, the WB, Nightline and The Today Show. Visit ChannelOne.com to learn more.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Since 1950, the foundation has approved nearly $300 million in journalism grants. For more information, visit www.knightfdn.org.