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Media Literacy: Home

Resources on media literacy from RTC and beyond.

Upcoming Media Literacy Events

Democracy Happy Hour Presents: Local Media & Its Impact on Democracy
Wednesday February 26, 5-6:30 pm PST
Location: Zoom (please pre-register)

Description: Local journalism is in crisis—2,100 newspapers lost since 2005. How does this impact democracy? Join us for a panel discussion with journalists and media scholars about the impact of shrinking newsrooms, media consolidation, and digital disruption on democracy—and discuss how we can sustain local journalism in the modern era.

Fix Democracy First is a nonpartisan pro-democracy organization. We host a weekly Democracy Happy Hour on Wednesdays to share the latest news on democracy across the country and hear from experts on a variety of democracy related topics.
 

Why is Media Literacy Important?

In today's world, we are inundated with media messaging more than ever before. A 2022 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that average screen time among teens outside of school had more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic numbers, now at 7.7 hours a day compared to 3.8 hours a day pre-pandemic. Take a second to reflect on how your use of media has changed in recent years. How are different forms of new media, especially social media, affecting children and adults? Given the rise of online misinformation and fake news, skyrocketing anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia related to social media, and increasing political tensions and divisions, what are the strategies, tools, and habits we need to cultivate in order to thrive in this new media landscape?

This resource guide is meant to provide resources from experts on these important questions. Here you will find information on Media Literacy, Fake News, Resources for Educators, Resources for Parents, and Digital Citizenship.