Assembly member Cecelia González proclaims National News Literacy Week at Nevada State Capitol
CARSON CITY, NEV., Feb. 3, 2025 — On Tuesday, Feb. 4, Assembly members Cecelia González (D—Las Vegas) and Erica Mosca (D—Las Vegas) will issue an official proclamation recognizing National News Literacy Week. Media availability will take place at noon on the south steps of the Nevada State Capitol in Carson City.
This proclamation underscores the critical importance of news literacy in a democracy and highlights Nevada’s commitment to ensuring young people are equipped with the tools needed to navigate today’s complex media landscape.
Teens are struggling to separate fact from fiction online and in their social media feeds, according to a recent study by the News Literacy Project. It found that most teens who encounter conspiracy theories online are inclined to believe them (81%). Few could tell the difference between sponsored content, opinion journalism and paid ads. Meanwhile, teens overwhelmingly reported wanting to learn media literacy in school, which the study found was associated with healthy online habits like fact-checking a social media post before sharing.
Nationwide initiative
National News Literacy Week is a nationwide initiative in partnership with news organizations including USA TODAY that puts a spotlight on the urgent need to teach students how to find credible information. The week encourages educators to teach the critical thinking skills students need to learn how to identify standards-based journalism and to recognize what information and sources they can trust.
Last school year, the News Literacy Project provided almost 600 educators across Nevada with free resources, reaching an estimated more than 2,800 students. The proclamation demonstrates Nevada’s leadership in ensuring that citizens have the knowledge to critically evaluate news and media.
“We live in an era when rumors spread rapidly, making news literacy more essential than ever,” said Ebonee Otoo, Senior Vice President of Educator Engagement for the News Literacy Project. “This proclamation reaffirms Nevada’s commitment to empowering young people with the skills they need to discern credible information and engage in informed civic participation.”
Following the event, the News Literacy Project will meet with the Nevada Department of Education to discuss expanding news literacy education across the state.
National News Literacy Week is an annual initiative designed to elevate the importance of news literacy in our society. Through press events, policymaker engagement, educational workshops, and journalist-led discussions, this initiative aims to equip individuals with the skills to assess news credibility and push back against misinformation.
Event Details
Location: Nevada State Capitol south steps, Carson City, NV
Time: Noon PST, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
Speakers: Assembly member Cecelia González, News Literacy Project Senior Vice President of Educator Engagement Ebonee Otoo
Media contacts
News Literacy Project interview requests: Christina Veiga, Senior Director of Media Relations, [email protected] or [email protected]
On-site: Emily Crawford, [email protected]
About the News Literacy Project
Founded in 2008, the News Literacy Project (NLP) is a nonpartisan education nonprofit that works with educators, school districts and states to ensure students receive news literacy instruction before they graduate high school, giving them the knowledge and ability to think for themselves and become well-informed, critical thinkers active in civic society.
About USA TODAY
Since its introduction in 1982, USA TODAY has been a cornerstone of the national media landscape under its recognizable and respected brand. It also serves as the foundation for our newsroom network which allows for content sharing capabilities across our local and national markets. Through USA TODAY, we deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Across our digital platforms we reach an audience of approximately 79 million unique visitors each month (based on December 2023 Comscore Media Metrix®).