Video reporting on the changing White House press room and why an independent media matters. NYTimes April 16, 2025
The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy
"National studies link a drop in voter participation to the newspaper decline. Original research by the news study committee found a similar outcome for Washington. The decline also has meant less community engagement and greater political partisanship. Observers lament the loss of the souls of communities and the glue that holds communities together." A 133-page report from the League of Women Voters of Washington, 2023.
"This film explains the concept of media capture (government and private actors colluding to take over media outlets), how it is a growing problem around the world, and what might be done about it." 5-minute streaming video for Center for International Media Assistance.
5 min. video co-created by PBS and Mediaocracy: "Learn how social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter (now X) have become major news sources and how their popularity has impacted other media platforms and shaped political opinions. Explore how social media algorithms often create "news bubbles" that block exposure to opposing points of view, and get advice from leading media experts on how to strengthen your digital literacy skills." Part of a 20 part series "We the Voter"
A lesson plan evaluating the First Amendment and the value of a free press, using the events after Mike Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri. This lesson plan is part of an 11-part series.
A lesson plan focused on teaching students how journalists collect and verify their information, using the events after Mike Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri. This lesson plan is part of an 11-part series.
A lesson plan detailing how journalists approach and manage their own biases in the field, using the events after Mike Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri. This lesson plan is part of an 11-part series.
Analysis of a news literacy course taught at Stony Brook University. including the VIA method which teaches that reliable sources are Verifiable, Independent, and Accountable.
The mission of this interdisciplinary group at UW is "to resist strategic misinformation, promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse."
A introduction to journalism and news gathering, including discussions of what reporters do, the purpose of journalism, what bias is, and how to verify information.
" Dedicated to promoting and supporting media literacy education as a framework for accessing, analyzing, evaluating, creating and participating with media content, CML works to help citizens, especially the young, develop critical thinking and media production skills needed to live fully in the 21st century media culture. The ultimate goal is to make wise choices possible."