Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information (CQÉMI)

What Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information (CQÉMI) does

Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information (CQÉMI) is a Montreal-based non-profit organization founded in 2021 to deliver media and information literacy (EMI) education across Quebec. It operates a network of approximately 70 professional journalist trainers who deliver free workshops in primary schools, secondary schools, CEGEPs, universities, libraries, and community organizations, with the flagship #30secondes avant d'y croire program reaching nearly 80,000 people since its 2018 launch and scaling to 420 workshops delivered to 10,650 participants in the 2023-2024 academic year. The product portfolio includes primary-level interactive games (Mission: Reportage), video capsule series (INFO à la découverte des médias), secondary and postsecondary workshops (Introduction aux fausses nouvelles, Mieux s'informer à l'heure des réseaux sociaux), senior-focused sessions, and pedagogical resources (fiches pédagogiques, balados, teaching directories), all aligned with Quebec's Culture et citoyenneté québécoise curriculum.

The organization's revenue model is grant-dependent rather than market-based: the Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec provides multi-year funding enabling up to 300 free workshops per year, supplemented by funding from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, private donations (Power Corporation du Canada, Fondation René-Lévesque, Fondation Nicole-Germain, Observatoire de la liberté d'expression), membership fees from approximately 750 members (14% journalists, 86% education/library sector), and fee-based workshops for non-member organizations. CQÉMI is not a registered charity and cannot issue tax receipts. Distribution is event-driven and direct: workshops are matched to schools via the website, with virtual delivery enabled through the École en réseau partnership and additional reach via La Presse newsroom visits, BAnQ exhibition visits, and monthly networking events co-hosted with AJIQ.

Strategically, CQÉMI has expanded its addressable market through the 2024 founding of REFEMI (a six-country francophone media literacy network anchored at the XIXe Sommet de la francophonie), the 2024 launch of an electoral democracy workshop with Élections Québec targeting new immigrants, and partnerships with international and academic institutions (CLEMI, Université Laval, UQAM, Université de Tours). The organization delivers >95% participant satisfaction and 85% institutional re-registration, with a small fixed staff of 9 complementing the freelance trainer network.

Name

Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information (CQÉMI)

Legal name

Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information

Website

https://cqemi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information (CQÉMI) is a Montreal-based non-profit that delivers media literacy workshops, games, and educational resources to Quebec schools, libraries, and community organizations through a network of 70 professional journalist trainers, primarily funded by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Literacy Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Information (51)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Information & Media Literacy (Evaluate Sources, Misinformation) (EDAAAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Literacy & Media Literacy (Reading/Writing Online) (EDAMAJAN), Data & Information Literacy (Search, Evaluation, Misinformation) (EDAAAIAI), Educational & Instructional Nonfiction (MPADADAL)

Keywords

• Media literacy education
• Disinformation workshops
• Journalism training
• News verification
• Information literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government grants and subsidies: Primary funding from Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec since 2021, enabling free workshops for schools. Also receives support from Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.
2. Membership fees: Annual membership program for educators, librarians, journalists, and community members. As of 2023, CQÉMI has approximately 750 members (14% journalists/regular members, 86% associate members from education/library sectors).
3. Donations: Individual donations accepted via website to support anti-disinformation activities. CQÉMI is not a charity and cannot issue tax receipts.
4. Workshop fees for non-member organizations: For organizations not registered as CQÉMI members, fee-based workshop pricing is available upon request at [email protected].

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CQÉMI delivers media literacy workshops and educational content created and led by professional journalists, helping citizens of all ages identify disinformation, verify information sources, and develop critical thinking about news and social media. Programs are delivered in primary and secondary schools, CEGEPs, universities, libraries, and community organizations across Quebec.

Product overview

CQÉMI is a non-profit media literacy education organization that offers a comprehensive portfolio of training programs and educational resources. The core offering is the #30secondes avant d'y croire training program, complemented by specialized workshops including Introduction aux fausses nouvelles, viralité et impacts, and Mieux s'informer à l'heure des réseaux sociaux. These are delivered across educational levels (primary, secondary, postsecondary) and to seniors and general public. The portfolio also includes interactive tools (Mission: Reportage game-workshop), video content (INFO à la découverte des médias capsules), pedagogical resources, and student competitions. Programs are delivered by professional journalists and are primarily free for Quebec schools through funding from Secrétariat à la jeunesse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• #30secondes avant d'y croire: The flagship training program teaching citizens to take 30 seconds to verify information before believing or sharing it. Delivered by professional journalists in schools and communities.
• Mieux s'informer à l'heure des réseaux sociaux
• Mission : Reportage!
• INFO à la découverte des médias
• La désinformation, un danger pour la démocratie

Products and services

• #30secondes avant d'y croire (30 Seconds Before Believing) Core media literacy training program delivered by professional journalists in schools, libraries, and community organizations. Teaches citizens of all ages to take 30 seconds to verify information before believing or sharing it. Offered in multiple versions across primary, secondary, postsecondary, and senior audiences.
• Introduction aux fausses nouvelles, viralité et impacts (Introduction to Fake News, Virality and Impacts)

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ participant satisfaction rate, 85% re-registration rate from institutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Collectif Ensemble pour l'éducation citoyenneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025CQÉMI invited to collaborate on creating pedagogical tools to support education students in the Culture et citoyenneté québécoise (CCQ) program at UQAM. CQÉMI will guide students in creating resources related to media and information literacy.
• La PressecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024La Presse supports CQÉMI's mission by encouraging its journalists to join the CQÉMI trainer team and by hosting school visits to its newsroom. La Presse will welcome 5 classes of secondary and postsecondary students for newsroom tours combined with #30secondes workshops between May 2024 and May 2025.
• Élections QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Joint initiative to offer citizens tools explaining the link between democracy and information, developing critical thinking and fostering civic engagement. A new #30secondes workshop adapted for electoral contexts will be offered in community settings through the Je vote au Québec program, starting Fall 2024.
• École en réseaucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership with École en réseau (ÉER) enables virtual delivery of #30secondes avant d'y croire workshops to secondary schools across the ÉER network. ÉER is supported by the Ministère de l'Éducation du Québec and facilitates distance learning across Quebec, including remote regions. A dozen virtual workshops had been delivered to 229 students by March 2023.
• Les As de l'info (Coops de l'information / CN2i)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CQÉMI and Les As de l'info collaborate on media literacy content for young people aged 10-12. Funded by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, the project includes video capsules and complementary content for 3rd cycle primary school teachers. A new interactive game for students is also being developed.
• CLEMI (Centre pour l'éducation aux médias et à l'information, France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner organization that organizes the Semaine de la presse et des médias dans l'École. CQÉMI participated in CLEMI's 40th anniversary events in France in March 2023. Both organizations collaborate within the REFEMI network.
• Centre d'études sur les médias de l'Université LavalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with the Centre d'études sur les médias (CEM) at Université Laval, led by Professor Colette Brin, to evaluate the impact of #30secondes avant d'y croire workshops on youth's media consumption habits and critical thinking skills. Research expected to conclude by end of 2024.
• Agence Science-PressecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgence Science-Presse produces the #30secondes avant d'y croire workshops and the podcast Le Détecteur de rumeurs. Eve Beaudin, co-founder of CQÉMI, also co-hosts the Science-Presse rumour-detection podcast. Long-standing operational partner.
• Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec (FPJQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPJQ organizes the Semaines de la presse et des médias, during which CQÉMI offers workshops and activities. CQÉMI's Eve Beaudin and Pascal Lapointe serve on FPJQ-organized panels. Collaboration on professional development events.
• Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec (FPJQ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFPJQ organizes the Semaines de la presse et des médias, during which CQÉMI offers workshops and activities. CQÉMI's Eve Beaudin and Pascal Lapointe serve on FPJQ-organized panels. Collaboration on professional development events.
• Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec (FPJQ)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFPJQ co-sponsored the panel L'impact de l'éducation aux médias et à l'information sur la mobilisation citoyenne des jeunes during the 2024 Semaines de la presse et des médias.
• Printemps numériqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in co-sponsoring the panel event on youth civic engagement and media literacy during the 2024 Semaines de la presse et des médias.
• École des médias de l'UQAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on a Léger poll about disinformation and conspiracy theories, commissioned jointly with CQÉMI. UQAM's École des médias co-organizes the annual Colloque sur l'éducation aux médias et à l'information with Globe Reporters.
• REFEMI (Réseau francophone d'éducation aux médias et à l'information)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of REFEMI, a francophone international network of media literacy organizations including CLEMI (France), CIIJ (Switzerland), CESEM (Belgium), Eduk-média (Cameroon), and Bénévoles EMI (Côte d'Ivoire). Founded at the XIXe Sommet de la francophonie in Paris in October 2024.
• Association des journalistes indépendants du Québec (AJIQ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAJIQ and CQÉMI co-host monthly networking events (6@8). AJIQ journalists are invited to learn about and potentially join the CQÉMI trainer network.
• HabiloMédiasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian media literacy organization that organizes panels and events with CQÉMI. Co-organizer of the Canadian Media Literacy Week.
• Chaire de recherche du Canada en éducation aux médias et droits humains (Université TéluQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on media literacy education, with Professor Normand Landry highlighting CQÉMI's central role in developing media literacy among youth in Quebec.
• Université de Tours (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership for exchanging best practices in media literacy education.
• UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCQÉMI representatives met with UNESCO media literacy officials during the France mission in March 2023. Active participant in UNESCO's Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
• Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the René et Lévesque exhibition at Archives nationales de Montréal, offering school visits combined with #30secondes workshops, February-May 2025.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MediaSmarts: Canada's national digital and media literacy center with programs for teachers, parents, and youth. Broader incumbent operating across Canada, providing comparable teacher resources and lesson plans.
• News Literacy Project: US-based non-profit offering news literacy curricula and the Checkology platform for middle and high school students. Comparable K-12 EMI curriculum provider, though operating in a different geography and education system.
• First Draft / Information Futures Lab (Brown University): Former global verification/disinformation training organization now housed at Brown. Comparable mission around journalist-led verification training and information literacy at scale.

Others

• Fondation Renée-Lévesque: Quebec foundation funding CQÉMI's student journalism competition and the René et Lévesque exhibition workshops. Strategic financial partner and a comparable small Quebec non-profit ecosystem actor.

Regional players

• Centre d'études sur les médias (Université Laval): Quebec academic research center on media, led by Prof. Colette Brin, evaluating the impact of CQÉMI's #30secondes workshops. Complementary research peer rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• École des médias de l'UQAM: UQAM academic unit focused on media education research and training, co-hosting CQÉMI's annual Colloque and producing EMI research. Both academic peer and active research partner.

Direct peers

• CLEMI (Centre pour l'éducation aux médias et à l'information): France's national EMI organization, operating the Semaine de la presse et des médias dans l'École and producing EMI resources for teachers and students. Closest functional analog to CQÉMI outside Quebec and an active REFEMI partner.
• HabiloMédias: Canada's national centre for digital and media literacy, offering teacher resources, research, and a Canadian Media Literacy Week. Direct peer in the same EMI space with overlapping school and educator audiences.
• Les As de l'info (Coops de l'information / CN2i): Quebec media cooperative producing news literacy content for youth aged 10-12. Active co-development partner on Mission: Reportage but also a parallel EMI content creator with overlapping school audience.
• Agence Science-Presse: Quebec science journalism agency that co-produces CQÉMI's flagship #30secondes workshops and the Le Détecteur de rumeurs podcast. Operates in adjacent disinformation/verification territory and is both partner and quasi-peer in science-media literacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cqemi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcoAnBLTqBpZfzuoIPyQG0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/Centre-qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois-d%C3%A9ducation-aux-m%C3%A9dias-et-%C3%A0-linformation-103620965326896
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-qu%C3%A9b%C3%A9cois-d-%C3%A9ducation-aux-m%C3%A9dias-et-%C3%A0-l-information-cq%C3%A9mi
• Instagraminstagram.com/cqemi/?hl=fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre québécois d'éducation aux médias et à l'information (CQÉMI)