Your comprehensive guide to using NLP resources. |
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What you can do with this year’s teen news literacy findings |
In our follow-up to last year’s “News Literacy in America” survey, one of the clearest changes we saw is that teens, more than ever before, are encountering news through people they know. Many teens said the first news they notice comes through group chats, private messages or posts shared by friends. Our findings also show that teens often trust information from friends or creators they follow, rather than from traditional news outlets.
Teens’ social circles are becoming informal news filters, and the emotional tone of these conversations can shape their reactions before they evaluate the source. Educators have an opportunity to help students reflect on who they trust and why, and how to distinguish between a post that feels believable and one that is actually credible.
This year’s report points to meaningful shifts in how young people interpret and engage with information. Two NLP resources can help educators address these changes right away. |
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The Seven Standards of Quality Journalism infographic offers a clear framework for understanding how credible news is produced, giving students a concrete way to evaluate the posts that surface in their feeds.
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Checkology’s Introduction to Algorithms lesson helps students unpack the factors that influence what content they see, empowering them to take a more active role in shaping their online experiences.
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There is encouraging news too. More teens are taking quick verification steps on their own: checking images, reading past the headline and looking for corroboration. Still, the constant flow of content makes it easy to overlook these habits in the moment. Small classroom routines, like pausing to consider what caught a student’s attention online, can reinforce these instincts before they scroll on.
Ultimately, this year’s findings underscore the powerful role educators play in shaping students’ information habits. Teens are navigating an overwhelming digital landscape, yet many are already showing signs of thoughtful skepticism. With resources like the Seven Standards of Quality Journalism infographic and the Introduction to Algorithms lesson, you can build on that momentum and help students move through their information environments with greater confidence, awareness and agency.
To dig deeper into the trends shaping teen news habits, we encourage you to explore the full follow-up report. |
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In celebration of a great year of news literacy learning in 2025, hear from a few educators around the country about their most memorable teaching moments. |
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“As part of a community service project, students decided to create a social media campaign on wildfire awareness. Without prompting from me, they chose to make the heart of their campaign about how to find reputable information in times of crisis. I was blown away at how quickly they had translated their news literacy skills independently to their project. I've been showing parallels throughout the class, but to see them instinctively do that was incredible!”
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Environmental engineering teacher Davies Career and Technical High School, Rhode Island |
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“Students wrote final reflections considering how they will change their media consumption based on what they learned from Checkology. So many students reflected on how they will be more skeptical and check sources.” |
English teacher Camden Hills Regional High School, Maine |
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“I assign a project where students are asked to curate a mock social media post to teach others about a news literacy concept they learned, and many of them choose topics they learned about through Checkology lessons. Seeing students be so enthusiastic and empowered through their learning gives me hope for our future online world! I believe many of them will become leaders among their peers, better equipped and more confident to spot and help halt the spread of misinformation.”
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Senior speech/language professional
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York |
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⭐ We’re Anthem Award winners! |
We’ve won two Anthem Awards, which honor the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. We won the Anthem Community Voice Award, which is determined by a popular vote. And we are the Bronze Winner in the Education, Art & Culture category for Education or Literacy Platforms. We appreciate the recognition and thank everyone who voted for us! |
⭐ National News Literacy Conference 2026
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Registration for the inaugural National News Literacy Conference will go live on Jan. 5. This conference marks a new chapter in our shared work of educating for a future founded on facts and will bring together educators from across the country to exchange strategies, celebrate impact and shape the next phase of the news literacy movement. Check our site for future updates.
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⭐ Mark your calendars: National News Literacy Week |
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We’re already busy preparing for the seventh annual National News Literacy Week, Feb. 2-6, 2026! Presented by NLP, The E.W. Scripps Company and USA Today, this week provides educators with the tools and resources they need to help students navigate today’s information landscape more skillfully. This year’s focus is on helping young people stay grounded with facts and rebuild trust in standards-based news — particularly in the age of AI. We’ll share lesson plans and resource suggestions before and during the week, so keep an eye on our landing page, social media and your inbox for more details.
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We’re already busy preparing for the seventh annual National News Literacy Week, Feb. 2-6, 2026! Presented by NLP, The E.W. Scripps Company and USA Today, this week provides educators with the tools and resources they need to help students navigate today’s information landscape more skillfully. This year’s focus is on helping young people stay grounded with facts and rebuild trust in standards-based news — particularly in the age of AI. We’ll share lesson plans and resource suggestions before and during the week, so keep an eye on our landing page, social media and your inbox for more details.
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⭐ Keep reading without the paywalls |
Good news — you don’t have to lose access to NICKLpass! While our partnership is ending, we’ve worked with NICKLpass to bring you a special reduced rate so you can keep enjoying the accounts and publications you already love. With NICKLpass, you can create your own bundle, pick the publications that matter most to you and keep them all in one simple, seamless, paywall-free place. 👉Complete this interest form and the NICKLpass team will be in touch to help you get started.
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The News Literacy Project will be presenting at the National Council for the Social Studies conference on Dec. 6 from 9:40-10:35 a.m. ET. We will also have a booth (245). If you’ll be there, please say hello! |
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Click here to take the poll and be entered into a raffle to win NLP swag! |
Congrats to Helen Velikans, who teaches literacy and the ethical use of AI in writing, for winning last month’s giveaway! |
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👉 Beyond the Algorithm: Empowering Educators and Students to Think Critically in the Digital Era
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Presented by The Boise State Writing Project |
This virtual conference focuses on the essential question, “How do we empower our learners to sort through the noise of AI and digital platforms and become critical, creative thinkers who shape the future rather than simply consume it?” Sessions will explore teaching students how to differentiate fact from fiction, navigate society’s divisions, solve complex problems, and support their own and others’ well-being. Register here.
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💜 Feb. 2-6: National News Literacy Week 💻 Feb. 3, 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT: NNLW edWebinar |
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© 2025 The News Literacy Project
5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 440, Washington, DC 20015
info@newslit.org
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