Research shows that most young people want media literacy education — but many aren’t getting it in school. As a parent, you can help bridge the gap, whether you homeschool or simply want to explore what your child is learning in class.
In a world of viral rumors, AI-generated content and endless social media feeds, news literacy is your child’s superpower. It’s the ability to distinguish credible information from misinformation, recognize reliable news and think critically about what they see online.
What is
news literacy?
News literacy teaches young people how to:
- Evaluate the credibility of news and information.
- Recognize the difference between news and other kinds of information.
- Navigate social media algorithms and influencer content.
- Understand why the First Amendment matters to American democracy and how a free press helps keep the public informed.
- Understand how artificial intelligence affects their information diet.
It’s not about telling kids what to think — it’s about giving them the tools to think for themselves and spot false and misleading information.
Who are we?
We’re a nationwide nonpartisan education nonprofit working with teachers, families and communities to ensure every student graduates with the ability to thoughtfully evaluate the news and information they encounter every day. For nearly 20 years, we’ve offered free resources to help educators make news literacy engaging and accessible for their students.
Our mission is simple: Help young people become critical consumers of news and information so that they can make more informed decisions throughout their lives and within their communities. Learn more about our mission and vision for news literacy education and how we approach teaching news literacy.
- Nonpartisan approach: We don’t tell students what to think; we teach them how to think more critically.
- Free resources: All our materials are available to the public.
- Proven impact: Used by educators in all 50 states and proved to improve students’ skills.
Stay Connected: Scroll Smarter Newsletter
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Scroll Smarter is our free monthly newsletter designed specifically for families. Every edition, you’ll receive:
Family-friendly tips for discussing current events and media literacy.
Trending topics like social media algorithms, AI and influencer culture.
Q&A section where parents share advice and ask questions.
Age-appropriate resources you can use at home.
Explore our offerings
Checkology® virtual classroom
Educators use our award-winning platform, which features interactive lessons led by news and information experts covering essential news literacy topics.
Preview Checkology lessons
Host: Tracie Potts
InfoZones
Host: Paul Saltzman
What Is News?
Host: Corey Johnson
The First Amendment
Host: Enrique Acevedo
Practicing Quality Journalism
Host: Enrique Acevedo
Practicando el periodismo de calidad
Host: Mia Sato
Introductions to Algorithms
Ready-to-use resources
Our Checkology platform also includes a variety of quick-hit resources and activities, including:
- Infographics and posters: Visual guides for key concepts.
- RumorGuard examples: Real-world cases of debunked misinformation from our dynamic fact-checking website.
- Classroom activities: Lessons and exercises for live classroom engagement.
- And coming soon! Discussion starters: Questions to spark conversations.
Curious how we engage teachers?
Other initiatives
We’re working to expand news literacy education with the following initiatives:
- Mark your calendar for our biggest annual campaign, National News Literacy Week.
- Find out how we’re helping school districts ensure all their graduates receive news literacy education.
Take action today
Start building your family’s news literacy skills:
- Subscribe to Scroll Smarter: Get monthly tips and resources.
- Explore Checkology: Preview our resources.
- Share your feedback: Tell us what topics you’d like to see covered.
Questions? Check out our FAQ
Remember: In today’s information landscape, news literacy isn’t just an academic subject — it’s an essential skill that will serve your child throughout their life.