NLP News

This Democracy Day, the News Literacy Project is announcing two events intended to help everyone build understanding and trust in our democracy within their own networks of influence.

NLP today received the highest honor from the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program, the David M. Rubenstein Prize, in recognition of NLP’s outstanding efforts to help people of all ages identify misinformation and help stop its spread. The awards are given annually on Sept. 8, which UNESCO has designated as International Literacy Day. The…

The News Literacy Project and TIME for Kids are teaming up this school year to bring educators seven weeks of news literacy resources and lessons. From September through mid-October, the upper elementary editions of the TIME for Kids teacher’s guide will feature classroom-ready materials that highlight the magazine’s journalism and NLP’s free resources. Intended for…

His course was ready to meet new media literacy requirement Illinois high school educator Tom Foss credits his experience with both skeptics and conspiracy theorists and a background in science and humanities for preparing him to teach media literacy. “I used to be active in scientific skepticism circles. I did presentations on chain letters, scams and conspiracy…

This NLPeople Q&A introduces you to Pam Brunskill, senior manager of education design at the News Literacy Project.

Alicia Shepard, who died in April 2023, was a ‘journalist’s journalist,’ committed to the work of the News Literacy Project.

With misinformation, doctored images, and AI-generated misleading photos and videos spreading on social media, young people need news literacy skills now more than ever. For the past three years, an essay contest created by the News Literacy Project has encouraged students to fact-check online content and seek out credible sources, helping them become responsible and informed news consumers.

For NLPeople, Natalie Quan, senior manager of database operations, told us she joined NLP because she cares immensely about facts and truth.

Natalie Moore, a reporter at WBEZ in Chicago, the NPR affiliate, is the News Literacy Project’s 2023 John S. Carroll Journalist of the Year.

Broadcast journalism teacher Alba Mendiola of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago Is the 2023 Alan C. Miller Educator of the Year.

Ana Sesma, of Hoschton, Georgia, the News Literacy Project’s 2023 Gwen Ifill Student of the Year, stands out among her peers.

The American Association of School Librarians has named RumorGuard to its annual list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning.

Editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson shares her journalism experience with New Hampshire middle school students who are studying news literacy.

Led by Urban Rural Action, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing people together across divides to address common challenges, a group of more than two dozen concerned community members will work collaboratively over the next 18 months to take action to deter targeted violence in their counties. Urban Rural Action calls the participants “Uniters.”   As part…

Today marks World Press Freedom Day, which the U.N. designated in 1993. an understanding of press freedom is essential to news literacy.

Ideagen® Global has named News Literacy Project founder Alan C. Miller a 2023 Power Innovator for his news literacy education leadership.

Learn what motivates Texas ambassador Juan Alvarado to embed news literacy in his teaching. Ambassador Connections is a series highlighting NewsLitNation Ambassadors.

Christina Veiga, senior director of media relations at NLP talks about her commitment to news literacy and journalism, and love of the beach.

Learn about “Harm & Distrust,” a new Checkology lesson by the News Literacy Project, focused on the historical failure of mainstream news organizations to serve all people equally — particularly Black Americans — and steps toward progress in the present day.

A teacher’s media literacy class gives students skills to be more news-literate and bridges millennia, enhancing ancient history courses.

Building on its history of partnerships with journalists and news outlets, the News Literacy Project is launching its first National Journalism Advisory Council. This group of prominent leaders will help the nonpartisan education nonprofit deepen NLP’s engagement with news organizations and journalists, amplify its mission, and assist news outlets in strengthening trust with their communities.

Black History Month is celebrates African American perseverance through unspeakable adversity and is intertwined with news literacy.

NLPeople is a series that introduces you to the people of NLP. Meet Dan Evon, senior manager of education design.

NewsLitCamp: Trust and Credibility was a free, virtual event hosted by the News Literacy Project in partnership with NBCUniversal News Group! It was designed to help educators teach students to analyze news and information with a skeptical — not cynical — eye. The professional learning highlighted:  What it means for news to inform us credibly.  …

Once trust is gone, it’s tough to regain. But it’s critical that we all work to restore it. That’s because public trust and a news media industry that does its job well go hand in hand in protecting our democracy. That’s why my organization, the News Literacy Project (along with The E.W. Scripps Company), is focusing on trust in newsrooms and news coverage during National News Literacy Week.

The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was a watershed moment for teachers of news literacy.

In 2022 misinformation spread widely on social media. We review the trends and offer tips on how to better navigate social media in 2023.

From the perspective of 2022, Mary Robb and colleagues look like fortune tellers. In 2001 they created a Democracy and Media Literacy course.

In a special two-part episode of our podcast Is that a fact? — “Sandy Hook at 10: Tragedy, conspiracy theories and justice” — we explore the aftermath of the shooting and how what seemed like an aberration of untruths would instead develop into a bellwether for a shift in public discourse, with conspiracy theories becoming a common element of tragic events. We also discuss how victims’ families have fought back against the lies and harassment and brought about lasting change.

On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. and, within minutes, ended the lives of 20 first-graders and six adults. In the decade since that day, grieving families have had to contend with conspiracy theorists – egged on by “alt-right” radio host Alex Jones and others – who believe the shooting never happened and the victims never existed.

For those celebrating holidays this season, it can be a joyful time to get together with loved ones. However, navigating conversations with family and friends — especially any who have been misled by mis- and disinformation — can also be stressful. 

Deborah Domingues-Murphy, an educator in Pittsburgh, Pa, is a News Literacy Project news literacy ambassador and civic engagement champion.

Our annual report showcases our achievements in schools, with the public and in our significant progress toward a more news-literate America.

NLP’s SVP of Educator Engagement Ebonee Rice says people don’t need empowerment; they have power and just need the resources to harness it.

We’re just a couple of weeks from Election Day. In many states, early and mail-in voting is already underway. We have created a few more resources to help you stay informed – not misled – as we enter the final stretch of election season. Be sure to check out NLP’s original Election 2022 page, where…

NLP responds to CT jury decision ordering Alex Jones to pay at least $965 million to those harmed by his lies about the Sandy Hook shooting.

Get informed and learn the skills to stay well-informed with RumorGuard, the newest addition to NLP’s comprehensive news literacy resources.

NLP’s News Literacy Ambassador Program is a national initiative to mobilize educators in the fight against misinformation.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Now is the time to make sure you have the facts about when, where and how to vote. When you search for information about the midterm elections, make sure you’re referencing reliable sources.

Educators asked, and we’ve answered! In response to requests for STEM-aligned lessons on Checkology®, the News Literacy Project’s free, browser-based virtual classroom, we’ve added a trio of new lessons: “Evaluating Science-Based Claims,” “Be Health Informed” and “Making Sense of Data.”