Strengthen Media Literacy Education Scholarship

NAMLE Executive Director Donnell Probst recently joined leaders from across the field to speak at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's "Media Literacy Education for Children and Youth" workshop. The recording of the session, "How Did We Get Here? The History and Evolution of Media Literacy Theory and Practice," is now available ✨ The discussion explores the history and evolution of media literacy as both an academic discipline and an educational practice, examines the field's current strengths and challenges, and lays the groundwork for future conversations about media literacy education. Watch now 📹 https://lnkd.in/eEZR65ap

Thanks Erika Lusky for the graphic summary of what media literacy educators mean when we talking about engaging students in discussing and analyzing media. "Contribution" is what we always what we strive for. It should never be a "serve and return" with teachers, alone, doing the "serving." It's about providing students with the guidance and opportunities they need to develop habits of inquiry (in which they initiate the questions and thinking). And we do it as group work so everyone can learn from and about each other in the process.

The 2026 Media Literacy Institute is a five-day virtual learning experience designed to help educators confidently integrate media literacy across their existing curricula. Through this intensive course, participants will explore evidence-based media literacy frameworks, practice facilitating media analysis and critical discussions, and learn how to create engaging lessons that empower students to think critically about the media they consume, create, and share. This year's Institute is a collaboration between the UW Center for Excellence in Media Literacy and the Center for Media Literacy and will feature new materials and resources from the Media Education Lab at the University of Rhode Island. 📅 August 3–7, 2026 💻 Virtual ⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM PDT daily + asynchronous work 🎟️ Registration is limited to 30 participants Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eTu9Uk6S

NAMLE will be participating in Media Literacy Education for Children and Youth: A Workshop, hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on June 11–12. This two-day public workshop will bring together educators, researchers, curriculum developers, program providers, and other leaders to explore how children and youth can navigate today’s complex information ecosystem. Discussions will focus on promising practices, emerging challenges, and educational needs related to media literacy in rapidly changing online environments. 📅 June 11–12, 2026 📍 Washington, D.C. + Virtual Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e3ck5Rmk

Big news for media literacy education in the U.S. 📚 Our friends at the Media Education Lab and Media Literacy Now have released Media Literacy in Massachusetts: A Landscape Scan and Policy Recommendations — the first major statewide initiative to document the scope of media literacy education in American public schools. Commissioned by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, this year-long study offers a comprehensive look at the current state of media literacy instruction, teacher needs, and recommendations to strengthen policy and practice. Read the full report: https://ow.ly/uZPP50Xtcn6

A new issue of the Journal of Media Literacy Education is here! Volume 18, Issue 2 brings together research and perspectives exploring how media literacy intersects with some of today’s biggest questions, from AI and misinformation to civic education, student leadership, relationships, and media literacy assessment. Among the new articles, researchers examine: • How college students interpret media messages about sex and relationships • The role of media literacy in student leadership and media activism • Using live fact-checking to teach students about disinformation • What students think about using ChatGPT for media analysis • How media literacy can be integrated into general education curricula • What researchers have learned about assessing media literacy skills The issue also includes a Voices from the Field article exploring approaches to teaching responsible AI use. Explore Volume 18, Issue 2 of JMLE 🔗 jmle.org

ICYMI, this The New York Times' article gives folks a good idea of what #MediaLiteracy instruction can look like in a K-12 classroom & the types of critical thinking skills students learn to apply to all forms of media, particularly media they encounter on #SocialMedia or media that's AI-generated. “It’s about really strengthening those foundational skills so that no matter what tech pops up between now and then, young people have the ability to handle it,” said California Assemblyman Marc Berman. (Media Literacy Now worked with Assemblyman Berman to advocate for — & help pass — the state's recent media literacy bills.) While passing legislation that prioritizes (& funds!) K-12 media literacy education is important, it's not the only way to get media literacy instruction into classrooms. There are many pathways to progress and in fact, local and grassroots advocacy efforts can help advance media literacy while we also work on system-wide changes. Read the article & if you're not already subscribed to our email list, sign up. We'll be releasing our U.S. Media Literacy Policy & Impact Report (mentioned in the NYT article) in January. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e4JysZWQ https://lnkd.in/euAW6d9K

When you encounter a piece of media, how often do you think about who was behind it? 🔎 NAMLE Key Questions: Authorship The next time you're scrolling social media, reading an article, watching a video, or encountering media anywhere else, consider: Who made this? Who was and was not involved in the creation of this? When was this made? Thinking about authorship can help us better understand the people, perspectives, and context behind the media we encounter. And as you explore these questions, keep asking: How do I know that? What makes me say that? These questions are part of NAMLE's Key Questions to Ask When Analyzing Media Experiences, a framework designed to help us think critically about media messages, the environments in which we encounter them, and the personal contexts we bring to each experience. Explore the full Key Questions 👉 https://lnkd.in/e3wGE6A9

The good: school cellphone bans and AI concerns are accelerating #MediaLiteracy mandates and rather than focusing solely on restricting technology, many states are pairing these limits with instructional requirements that help students understand how media, #SocialMedia algorithms, and #AI systems actually work – marking a shift from control toward education. 👍 Where there's room to improve: we'd like to see media literacy more comprehensively embedded in K-12 curriculum vs one-off instruction or instruction geared for only the older grade levels. Bottom line: policymakers are signaling that media literacy is a priority for their constituents — but there's still work to be done. Read the recent Education Week article where MLN's CEO Kyra Brissette talks about our recent Media Literacy Policy & Impact Report and what we're seeing around the country: https://lnkd.in/e78CpbmS

Media literacy starts with access, and so does U.S. Media Literacy Week! On Monday, October 26, we’re kicking off Media Literacy Week by exploring access and what it means to have the tools, information, technology, and skills we need to participate in today’s media environment. Access is about more than having an internet connection or a device. It also means knowing how to find and use information, understanding how media and technology work, and having opportunities to develop the skills that help us navigate them. But access isn’t equal. Barriers to technology, information, connectivity, and media literacy education can shape what people are able to see, learn, create, and contribute. As we get ready for Media Literacy Week, we’ll be taking a closer look at each of the ideas that make up media literacy and how they show up in our everyday lives. Join us October 26–30 for U.S. Media Literacy Week, and register your support today 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2Ux7JXx #MediaLiteracyWeek #MediaLiteracyMatters