If you’re looking for a strong, meaningful way to start news literacy instruction in January, “Democracy’s Watchdog” is a great place to begin. The lesson gives students a look at the role investigative journalism plays in a healthy democracy and we’ve recently added some updates, making it even easier to fit into your classroom plans. 

In the lesson, students explore how First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press demonstrate the power of journalism to hold people and institutions accountable. By working through real reporting examples and guided reflection, students start to see press coverage not just as something they consume, but also as a public service. 

The updated “Democracy’s Watchdog” lesson includes new case study examples that span different issues and moments in history, helping students see that watchdog journalism isn’t limited to one era or topic. 

You’ll also find new 15–30-minute interactive activities that can be used on their own or as a follow-up to the full lesson. These shorter activities are ideal if you’re pressed for time or want to extend learning without committing to a full class period. Students are invited to research a powerful example of investigative journalism and reflect on the watchdog role of the press. Our new activities include: 

Each activity reinforces the common idea: A free press helps protect the public by shining a light on harm, abuse of power and injustice. 

Starting the semester with “Democracy’s Watchdog” helps set a strong foundation for news literacy instruction. Students are reminded early on why the First Amendment matters and how it applies to real life. They practice analyzing reporting, asking questions and thinking about accountability, skills they’ll use all year long. 

Assigning this lesson is also a great way to take action during National News Literacy Week next month. The lesson will be featured in our NNLW activity planner (coming soon!), making it easy to plug into your plans. Whether you use the full lesson or one of the shorter activities, now’s a great time to start thinking about how you’ll bring watchdog journalism into your classroom. 

Welcome to Insider Spotlight, where we feature real questions from our team and answers from educators who are making a difference teaching news literacy. This month, our featured educator is Nicholas Casas, a librarian at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana. Learn what he has in store for National News Literacy Week and get inspired to participate with your own students or community.

Q: How are you planning to participate in National News Literacy Week?  

A: I will be partnering with Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE), the university’s community outreach center, by giving a lecture and workshop to their Adult Education and Senior University Programs. I’ll lecture on viewing news through social media, fact-checking sources, how standards-based news works, and how AI is affecting what we see online. The workshop portion will include the SIFT Method by Mike Caulfield, reverse image searching, and how to identify “pink slime” journalism.

Q: How do you make news literacy engaging for audiences that might feel overwhelmed by or uninterested in the news?  

A: I like to add some humor and low stakes examples. When starting out, I don’t include politics, world affairs, or health-related news. (I touch upon politics for my election season workshops, but I stay away from opinions and focus on where people can get their facts.) Politics may either bore or scare people. So, I like using examples from celebrity news gossip, entertainment (like music or movies), sports, and weird funny images and deep fakes. The more ridiculous it is, the better. 

Registration for the inaugural National News Literacy Conference will open soon! Join us on October 8-10, 2026, at The Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Interested? Find registration details here.

The seventh annual National News Literacy Week is right around the corner, on Feb. 2-6, 2026! Presented by NLP, The E.W. Scripps Company, USA Today and USA Today Network, 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 rebuilding trust in standards-based news — particularly in the age of AI. Get involved by assigning a news literacy lesson or activity, attending our webinar, or donating to help us reach more educators. Keep an eye on your inbox or explore the NNLW site for more details. 

Are you using NLP’s resources to make a difference in your classroom? We want to hear from you! We’re looking for passionate educators to share their experiences and insights in our Insider Spotlight. Interested in being featured in this newsletter, on NLP’s website and across our social media channels? Complete the interest form here: https://forms.gle/pvzQPix7kAPmgYQp6

Join the News Literacy Project’s Hannah Covington for this National News Literacy Week edWebinar to explore teaching strategies and resources to help students distinguish between different kinds of content on social media.

💜 Feb. 2-6: National News Literacy Week