Core values guide us, especially during times of uncertainty
By Chuck Salter
While the seasons change with comforting reliability, upheavals in society are unpredictable. I’ve been reflecting — as I imagine many of you have — on where we are and where we’re headed. Change is happening at a dizzying pace and scale, and with that comes a sense of unease. Uncertainty about the future can make us feel powerless, as though we are at the whims of forces we can’t control, or sometimes even understand.
But we are not powerless.
The work of the News Literacy Project proves that, and I have never been prouder to lead this organization. The nonprofit sector plays a critical role in civic society. It provides vital services on behalf of, and sometimes alongside, the government and works to solve problems where there is no clear profit in the solution. Nonprofits help sustain our social fabric, our democracy and our economy. In 2023 alone, the sector generated more than $1.4 trillion in economic activity — a striking reminder of its reach, resilience and importance. Nonprofits stand up for a community’s values as a collective force, effectively harnessing and multiplying the power of the individual. Your values are reflected in the nonprofits you support, demonstrating how you can make a difference.
Remaining steadfast
NLP, an independent, nonpartisan organization, is grounded in core values that guide us through uncertainty. Among them: News literacy is an essential life skill, facts matter, and a free press is a cornerstone of democracy. We remain steadfast in our mission — especially whenever those values are threatened, or the independence of nonprofits is at risk.
We can’t ignore stark reminders of what’s at stake. Respected news outlets are facing restrictions on access that hamper their ability to cover the nation’s official business. And a decision to cut federal funding for PBS and NPR threatens their ability to fulfill a public good. The 2025 World Press Freedom Index reflects the damage these decisions can do. The U.S. now ranks 57th out of 180 countries, down two spots from last year. We would disagree with these restrictions regardless of which political party issued them. Like news literacy education itself, these issues are not partisan; they concern democracy and a thriving civic dialogue.
Students who learn news literacy understand that a free press protects everyone from tyranny, corruption and government overreach. This is fundamental to the discipline. They learn to think independently, and to apply the standards of quality journalism to navigate disinformation, conspiracy theories and AI-generated fakes. These are skills we all can use.
While the ground may feel shaky, our feet are planted firmly. Our entire team at NLP is more energized and committed than ever to do our part to ensure today’s students are equipped with the tools and abilities they’ll need to be tomorrow’s leaders. On behalf of educators and students in all 50 states, we are grateful for your steadfast commitment, partnership and interest in our work — which we will continue to do until we realize our vision of guaranteed news literacy education for every student in the country.
Chuck Salter is the president and CEO of the News Literacy Project.