Staying fresh and fluent in today’s media landscape isn’t easy. This collection of resources offers tools to tackle eight pressing challenges, from recognizing bias and propaganda to leveraging your role as a media contributor.
Newseum
The mission of the Newseum is to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through education, information and entertainment. One of the top attractions in Washington, D.C., the Newseum blends news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits, and its Newseum Institute serves as a forum for First Amendment study, exploration and education. The Newseum is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including the Freedom Forum.
Featured Resources
Evaluating Election Ads
In this activity, students examine some of the techniques political campaigns use in ads to persuade voters.
Making a Change: The First Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement
See how advocates for — and against — change in the civil rights era leveraged the five freedoms of the First Amendment to make their voices heard.
Fake News – What’s the Big Deal?
Students watch a video in which teens reflect on the concept of fake news, and then discuss their own experiences with misinformation.
The Fundamentals of News
Students learn why news matters and how to distinguish between the different media-related terms they might hear being thrown around.
Source: Can I Trust the Creator?
Students dig into an article to determine whether they can trust the story by investigating its producers and the sources within.
Weed Out Propaganda
A bold digital poster outlines a simple acronym — S.E.E.D. — to help students learn to spot propaganda by recognizing four of its key techniques.
Evidence: Do the Facts Hold Up?
Students dig into an article to determine whether they can trust the information by verifying the evidence it presents.
Is This Story Share-Worthy? Flowchart
Students use an infographic to gauge the value of a news story and weigh what they should do with it.
E.S.C.A.P.E. Junk News
Students learn a handy acronym to help them remember six key concepts for evaluating information, then test the concepts in teams.
