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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Learning to spot the fakes — at an early age
Opinion Finland has an enviable record when it comes to figuring out what's true, and what's not. In 2023, as it has done for years, Finland led the Open Society Institute — Sofia's (OSIS) Media Literacy Index. Finns are quite simply better prepared to recognize disinformation and misinformation, and that preparation starts with education. 'Finland's government considers the strong public education system as a main tool to resist information warfare against the country and 'widespread critical thinking skills among the Finnish population and a coherent government response' is thought to be a key element for resisting fake news campaigns,' OSIS wrote in the introduction to the 2023 index. FILE Finland is often at the top of global rankings for media literacy. Canada isn't terribly far behind — we ranked at seventh in 2023, and fourth in education in media literacy. But the Finns have always been out in front. Why? Because they start early. Media literacy is part of the country's national core curriculum — and the effort starts in preschool. Teachers have a broad range of ways to draw media literacy into a variety of lesson plans — as a story in the New York Times pointed out, 'A teacher in Helsinki, Anna Airas, said she and her students searched words like 'vaccination' and discussed how search algorithms worked and why the first results might not always be the most reliable. Other teachers also said that in recent months, during the war in Ukraine, they had used Russian news sites and memes as the basis for a discussion about the effects of state-sponsored propaganda.' Other teachers emphasize how to identify AI-generated photographs: still others teach about the need to go back to examine the original sources for stories on social media sites and the need to weigh the trustworthiness of those sources. It's a valuable effort: with more and more information coming at us every single day, it's important to know what is accurate, and what is designed for other, more sinister ends. That's why the Free Press is joining with the Manitoba government and the Winnipeg School Division to develop a made-in-Manitoba project. The project is following the model of the New York Times Learning Network, and is being designed by local teachers to help teach media literacy for students from kindergarten to Grade 12. It's expected to provide lesson material on issues like data and privacy, propaganda and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. The problem, in some ways, is a simple one: we're preconditioned to accept information that we already agree with, and, if we do agree with it, we're less likely to rigorously challenge it — or even question it. In fact, we often simply pick it up and run with it, immediately using a piece we agree with to justify our own beliefs. It means we can all be guilty of missing a crucial step along the way — the place where you step back for a second, dig a little deeper, and establish if you really should be passing along a 'news' story that's actually nothing of the kind. The idea is not to tell students what to believe, or even to tell them, 'this source and this source and this source are accurate and can always be trusted.' It's to give them the tools to be able to decide for themselves what an accurate source of information would look like and to discern the signs of misinformation. These are complex times, and huge amounts of information flow into our digital devices — from tablets to laptops to phones — with virtually no filters whatsoever. It's all about giving students a chance in a challenging environment. And maybe catching those pesky Finns.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Gallery: Remembering The Bay
After 355 years, the Hudson's Bay Company has closed its doors. The longstanding business grew as a fur-trading company and transitioned into a department store. Over recent years, it's been in a state of financial decline. It filed for creditor protection in March and is shuttering 80 Bay stores and its Saks-linked Canadian locations. In addition to the flagship store at Portage Avenue and Memorial Boulevard, which closed in 2020, Winnipeg's Hudson's Bay stores were located in CF Polo Park and St. Vital Centre. A Saks Off Fifth occupied Outlet Collection Winnipeg. Canstar Community News files The downtown Hudson's Bay Company building, shown while under construction in the 1920s, is an important piece of Winnipeg's architectural and cultural heritage. Canadian Tire aims to acquire Hudson's Bay trademarks, including its stripes and coat of arms. Here, we take a look back at the once-prominent Canadian company and its history in Winnipeg. Glenn Olsen / Free Press files The Hudson's Bay Company's downtown Winnipeg flagship store, above on Oct. 1, 1985, was officially opened in November 1926 and closed in November 2020. Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Manitoba Archives Hudson's Bay Company's downtown store's third floor looking south from the passenger elevator lobby in November 1926. Hudson's Bay Company Archives, Manitoba Archives Doreen Hardie appears on the job in a photo taken in 1947 of her working as the elevator operator at the Bay dressed in a toy soldier costume. Free Press files The first floor of the Hudson's Bay Company's downtown store on March 13, 1973. Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files On Nov. 19, 2004, Nelda Burdy had 47 years of service at the Paddlewheel Restaurant in the Bay downtown store. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files Paddlewheel Restaurant - Turkey and Beef dinner platter on tray. Jan 23, 2013,
Winnipeg Free Press
17 hours ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Free Press journalists nationally recognized for child-care investigation
Their investigative series on Manitoba's child-care system has earned two Free Press journalists top honours. Reporters Jeff Hamilton and Katrina Clarke received national recognition at the Canadian Association of Journalists awards this weekend, taking home this year's McGillivray Award for investigative journalism as well as gold in the written news category. They were chosen as winners by a panel of current and former journalists out of a record number of entries — 540 — from news publications and broadcast stations across the country for work produced in 2024. 'The McGillivray jury concluded that Hamilton and Clarke's exposé of the many cracks in Manitoba's child-care system bore all the hallmarks of excellent investigative work — it brought clarity to complex subjects and used vivid personal examples to convey systemic flaws,' the Canadian Association of Journalists stated in a news release Sunday. Clarke and Hamilton worked on the six-part series for months. It highlighted opportunities for change at the provincial level to make Manitoba's child-care system more accessible, transparent and safe. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. 'The Free Press greatly appreciates the national recognition for Jeff and Katrina's journalism and our commitment to investigative reporting,' Free Press Editor Paul Samyn said. See the full list of Canadian Association of Journalists award winners here.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sea Bears struggles continue with fourth-straight loss
The Winnipeg Sea Bears' losing streak has stretched to four. An 88-73 defeat to the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks in front of 8,374 fans at Canada Life Centre on Saturday dropped Winnipeg's pro basketball club to 1-4 after beginning the season with a victory. Three of the team's four losses have come at home. Ottawa improved to 2-2 on the campaign. Deng Adel led a resilient offensive effort for the visitors with 20 points on a 50 per cent shooting efficiency. He added seven rebounds and seven assists. Miryne Thomas supplied 16 points and four rebounds, while Tyrrel Tate chipped in with 11 points. Tevian Jones scored a game-high 32 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Jaylin Williams supplied 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Winnipeg continues to search for consistency off the bench. Head coach Mike Taylor shifted Emmanuel Akot to the second unit for that reason, but the homegrown forward managed seven points in 28 minutes on this night. The BlackJacks held leads of 19-18, 44-37 and 65-60 after each quarter, which was encouraging for the Sea Bears, considering their third quarter struggles this season. Entering Saturday's contest, opponents had outscored Winnipeg 106-66 coming out of halftime. On this night, the Sea Bears outscored the BlackJacks 23-21 in the third frame. The BlackJacks entered Target Score Time with a 77-67 lead, and Tate ended the contest with a three-pointer. It was the Sea Bears' first game since releasing guard Mason Bourcier. The club is expected to add another player to the roster at some point this summer. The club's prized offseason addition centre Simi Shittu is expected to join the team on its eastern road trip, which begins June 7 in Brampton, Ont., but will not play. x: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
IIU investigating after man killed by Winnipeg police Friday
Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating the death of a man who was shot by city police after he was found covered in blood and armed with a screw driver in a back alley in St. James Friday. Gene Bowers, chief of the Winnipeg Police Service, hosted a rare weekend news conference on Saturday afternoon to share details about a fatal shooting that happened one night earlier. One or more uniformed officers discharged a gun within five minutes of WPS receiving a 911 call about a man who was acting erratically in the 200 block of Ferry Road, Bowers said. 'Last night was a very difficult moment for our community,' he told reporters at WPS headquarters in downtown Winnipeg. 'Our hearts go out to the family who has lost a loved one, to the officers who were involved in a split-second decision that forever changed them.' Bowers provided few details about the series of events, citing an ongoing probe by the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba. All serious incidents involving on- and off-duty police officers in the province are referred to the IIU to investigate. The police chief said West District patrol officers responded to a 'suspicious call' about an unknown man who was covered in blood and appeared to be attempting to break into houses at 6:11 p.m. Friday. Police located an adult male who fit that description and was armed with a screwdriver at 6:16 p.m., he said. It was unclear Saturday whether the suspect was covered in his own blood or that of someone or something else's. Bowers said a use of force encounter occurred and the man was shot, after which emergency responders provided medical care and he was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The man later died of his injuries. The IIU was alerted of the events late Friday. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
