Help us give facts a fighting chance on #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is less than a week away, and we’re looking forward to joining in for the first time!

The outpouring of support we’ve seen for news literacy since the presidential election underscores the importance of ensuring that young people learn how to know what to believe. With this knowledge, they will become smarter news consumers today and better-informed and engaged citizens tomorrow.

These skills have never been more urgently needed. Just this week, a Stanford University study of more than 7,800 students in middle school through college revealed that most were unable to judge the credibility of the news and information they consumed online.

For the past eight years, we’ve been working with educators in New York City, Chicago, the Washington, D.C., area and Houston to teach middle school and high school students how to address the challenges reflected in the Stanford study. With the aid of seasoned journalists who visit their classrooms, students have learned how to evaluate the credibility of information, stem the flow of misinformation, step out of their filter bubbles, evaluate the degree of bias in what they’re reading or watching, and understand and appreciate the essential roles of the First Amendment and freedom of the press in our democracy.

Now, with our new Checkology™ virtual classroom, we can offer these lessons — and more — across the U.S., in a cutting-edge format accessible by schools, libraries and after-school programs.

With your help, we can play an even more significant role in addressing the education gaps that were starkly revealed in the Stanford study.

So we’re asking you to help us this #GivingTuesday. Here are a few ways you can join our cause:

• Plan to make a donation on Nov. 29 — or, if you prefer, do so today. As little as $20 can bring our virtual classroom to a student in an underserved school.
• Follow us on Twitter at @TheNewsLP and on Facebook, and ask your friends to follow us, too.
• Forward this email to anyone you know who believes that news literacy can make a difference.

We invite you to help us give facts a fighting chance. Thank you for your support.