Youth News Network plans to rollout in new year despite attacks from educators

After several delays and despite fierce opposition, the Youth News Network (YNN) is proceeding with plans to launch a national television network available through high schools. Rod MacDonald, president of YNN parent Athena Educational Partners Inc (AEP), told CCR his company is currently doing dry runs and getting feedback from focus groups on programming. He expects to be on the air after schools return from the Christmas break. Since its inception, YNN has been a controversial project. Teachers' federations and parent groups have condemned it for commercialization, since YNN's flagship newscast will feature two minutes of advertising during its 12.5 minute run. In October, Drew Caldwell, the new education minister in Manitoba, announced schools in his province may no longer sign agreements with AEP for provision of YNN. Eight school districts in Manitoba are currently subscribing to the youth network. That doesn't worry MacDonald. "That's their position as of today but we'll see what their position is six months down the road," the president says. "Because clearly there is a fairly significant gap between what the present government perceives YNN is and what we are really all about." MacDonald not only faces opposition, he also faces competition. Some 55 Canadian cable companies and 36 programming services offer schools an alternative with Cable In The Classroom (CITC). Companies such as Newsworld, CNN, Vision and A&E provide programming appropriate to schoolchildren. Unlike YNN, CITC schedules material aimed at all age groups. MacDonald defends his project, pointing to other examples of commercialization in the school system. The YNN chief recalls his children receiving vouchers from McDonald's restaurants as part of a reading program. Wal-Mart recently announced a program of adopting 163 schools across the country. "There's all kinds of commercial activity going on in schools," MacDonald counters. "In our case, though, I suppose there are those at the hard core of the teachers' federations who think that the television aspect is singularly different, more intrusive and provides an opportunity for this company to carry on with some sort of so-called `rightwing corporate agenda' which is absolute nonsense." He also disputes CITC's claim that YNN forces students to watch while CITC programming is discretionary. YNN does not require its shows to be part of the curriculum, he maintains, and says the decision by provincial education departments to overrule local boards raises questions of local autonomy. Schools that sign up for the YNN service receive television sets, VCRs and satellite dishes to augment scarce resources. MacDonald has high hopes for Internet access for students in YNN-affiliated institutions. The company wants to set up a portal to provide educational material for secondary school students and adult education programs. By using secure access codes, parents will have the ability to check homework assignments, attendance records and performance tests of their children. He also promises to offer regionalized information on health and safety issues, citing as examples cases of mononucleosis or meningitis outbreaks which could be discussed on the portal. He expects to have professional counsellors available on-line to help teens discuss issues like sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, topics they may be reluctant to discuss with parents or school guidance counsellors. MacDonald notes his service is modelled after the Channel One initiative in the United States, but maintains his company has no corporate links with Channel One founder Chris Whittle. He also points out that YNN has other facets distinguishing it from its American counterpart, such as video Internet technology and the installation of computer portals.

Youth News Network plans to rollout in new year despite attacks from educators

Broadcast | December 22, 1999

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