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Media Literacy
Media literacy skills empower us to be informed and principled citizens and effective peacemakers and advocates. Choose a category below to learn more.
Media Literacy Basics
What is Confirmation Bias and How Can We Avoid It?
Validation feels good. However, when we surround ourselves with voices, news sources, and information that simply reinforce what we already believe, not only are we lacking a heathy amount of challenge to our thinking and environment, but it can distort our ability to accurately interpret and accept legitimate facts. Scroll to learn more about what #confirmationbias is, how it impacts you, and how to avoid it.
Sep 29, 2025
Why you should read beyond the headline
Ever shared an article, and you can immediately tell who in the comments only read the headline? It's easy to see a headline, post, or couple of slides on social media and think you know the whole story, but understanding the purpose of headlines is a good reminder of why it is important to read the full article before you comment or share.
Mar 31, 2025
Seven reasons to love local news outlets
You love your community. You love your local schools, restaurants, and small businesses. And you love keeping your eye on local politics to ensure that the things you love are funded, improved, and prioritized. That's why we want to send some serious love to local news outlets. Check out the slides to see how local news organizations support the many things you ❤ about where you live.
Jul 29, 2024
Misinformation
What is propaganda?
Propaganda is pervasive, but so is the accusation of propaganda. Where have you heard leaders call information they disagree with propaganda or where have you seen actual propaganda recently?
Swipe through the slides to better name and identify the propaganda you see on your newsfeed.
Mar 24, 2025
SIFT: help stop the spread of misinformation
Did that headline cause a strong emotional reaction? Did that article claim to have exclusive info? Did that tweet supposedly come from an expert on the topic?
Before you share, SIFT! Taking just a few minutes to stop, investigate the source, find more coverage, and trace the claims can help stop the spread of misinformation.
Dec 31, 2024
The Post-Truth Era
Post-truth denotes “circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion” than one’s personal belief.
Nov 18, 2024
First Amendment and the Law
The importance of diverse books
Books matter. Representation matters. Diversity matters. Swipe to learn why. What reasons would you add to this set?
Swipe to learn why it is important to include diverse stories in your personal library, and to keep diverse books readily available in your local libraries.
Apr 14, 2025
Presidents and their relationship with the news media
What stories do you remember about a president butting heads with the press? Scroll to read more about the support and tension between a president and the news media.
Feb 19, 2024
What is NOT protected under the freedom of speech?
Pt 2/2 Freedom of Speech is pretty expansive, but it has its limits. Scroll to understand more about what is NOT PROTECTED as free speech.
Nov 13, 2023
Elections
Let’s talk about political polls
Polls can help us gauge what's going on, but it is important to understand their purpose, accuracy, and limitations.
Oct 21, 2024
Tracking federal legislation
Click through the slides to see how we follow important bills as they progress through Congress, so you can track legislation that is important to you as well
Dec 5, 2022
Peacemaking
5 Ways to be a better peacemaker
Media literacy is more than just navigating the news, it's a tool for productive PEACEMAKING.
Sep 4, 2023
Want to be a better peacemaker?
Start peacemaking with your newsfeed! Scroll for 6 powerful questions to help you approach your media consumption with reflection and humanity.
Aug 28, 2023
Why does media literacy matter?
Media literacy enables us to build positive peace through change. Good information assists us in building a more peaceful and just world.
Aug 21, 2023
Social Media and Technology
Let's talk about Instagram
What is Instagram? Instagram is a photo- and video-sharing app with more than 2 billion monthly active users. Launched in 2010, the app’s focus on photo sharing — which wasn’t yet a staple on social media platforms — became an instant success. After just 18 months, Instagram was sold to Facebook (now Meta) for $1 billion. Who uses Instagram? Users are more likely to be young: 80%* of adults ages 18-29 use Instagram, while only 40% of adults ages 50-64 and 18% of adults over
Aug 17
Let’s talk about influencers
Influencer opinions are shaping public opinions, attitudes, and perceptions, but should we take them seriously? Read to learn more about the impact, power, and drawbacks of social media influencers.
Apr 15, 2024
What is ChatGPT?
Swipe to learn about what ChatGPT is, how it can be used, and what you need to watch out for.
Mar 13, 2023
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