Director/Producer: Mark Reeves
International Telefilm Enterprises. 1990. $295
Length: 28 minutes
Audience: High School, Post-Secondary
Topics: Media and minority representation

A film on this topic—particularly a Canadian film—is sorely needed; so A Voice to Be Heard is a welcome addition to a video collection dealing with media issues. It poses questions such as: Do minorities have access to the media? What kind of minority representation exists in hiring practices for media positions? How are various minority groups covered by the mainstream media of newspapers, television and radio? A chorus of 15 people, all of whom either work in the media, or critique the media—tries to provide answers. A number of their points are well taken, but the video does tend to repeat itself. As well, there is a stunning shortage of women in the piece: one sole female voice out of 15.

Teachers of journalism, social studies and media education will undoubtedly find some provocative comments here, but they may want to work with sections of the production, rather than the whole.

A Voice to be Heard can be ordered online through International Telefilm Enterprises.

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