With a rise in misinformation, AI-generated content, and cynicism toward the press, the nonpartisan, nonprofit News Literacy Project aims to equip youth with the ability to critically examine the information available, especially online. Organizing National News Literacy Week, February 3–7, is among the nonprofit’s many methods to achieve its mission.
The News Literacy Project finds it essential to promote news literacy skills in the classroom so youth can navigate the information they see in social media and the internet. This year the initiative is focusing on providing educators with resources through virtual workshops and panels, covering topics such as identifying media bias and understanding journalistic accountability. The virtual workshops and panels will allow educators from across the nation to attend and learn.
In addition, through the News Literacy Project’s Newsroom to Classroom program, teachers can invite a journalist to share their expertise and experience with students. More than 150 journalist-volunteers are ready and eager to meet with students in person or virtually. These free visits are an opportunity for students to get news literacy instruction straight from the experts on dozens of topics, including misinformation, social media issues, the watchdog role of the press, the standards of quality journalism, the First Amendment, and more.
Newsroom to Classroom journalist-volunteers have visited classrooms all over the United States and the world, from elementary school to college level, and across many subject areas, including English/language arts, social studies, science, and library/media studies.