Level: Grades 11 - 12
Overview | This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) is available in an easy-print, pdf kit version. To open the lesson kit for printing, click here. To print only this page, use the "printable version" link at the top of the page. |
To introduce students to the organizations of the Canadian broadcasting industry, and to the codes, guidelines and issues relating to violence in television and radio programming.
Learning Outcomes
Students demonstrate:
- an understanding of the roles of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), and the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
- an understanding of the issues surrounding the depiction of violence on television, and the codes and guidelines used by the Canadian broadcasting industry to regulate violent content.
- an awareness of the procedures that have been established to receive and resolve consumers' complaints.
Preparation and Materials
Prepare the following transparencies:
The following handouts support this unit:
The Lesson
Introduction
Guided Discussion: To ensure standards of quality and fairness, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has developed voluntary broadcasting codes as guidelines for radio and television stations across Canada. Although private broadcasters are self-regulating, they must adhere to the Violence Code, the Sex-role Portrayal Code and the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children as a condition of licencing by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. But who decides what the rules are, and how they should be interpreted? Let's look at the players in Canada's broadcasting industry.
- Place The Players transparency onto the overhead projector and discuss with class.
Now that we understand the three main players, let's take a look at the complaints process.
These are the players and the process, but it is the codes and guidelines that determine the decisions that are made regarding the broadcasting industry. It is The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming that is used to regulate violence in broadcasting.
- Distribute CAB Voluntary Code Regarding Violence in Television Programming to students.
- Once they have read the code, discuss it as a class. Ask students to think of examples for some of the points, especially those relating to children's programming, news and public affairs, violence against women and violence against specific groups).
Activity
- Distribute the Silence of the Lambs Case Study and Case Study Assignment Sheet to students, individually or in small groups.
- Students will have one or two classes to complete this assignment.
- Once students have completed their assignments, take up the CBSC Silence of the Lambs Verdict with the class.
Evaluation
- Completed You Be the Judge assignments
