News Literacy Act
Draft Disclaimer
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Summary
This model policy requires the State Board of Education to incorporate media and news literacy instruction into an existing middle or high school course.Model Policy
(a) Media literacy: In this Section, “media literacy” is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and communicate using various media forms.
(b) News literacy: In this Section, “news literacy” means understanding how the standards of authoritative, fact-based journalism work to promote accuracy, fairness, transparency and independence in news coverage; and having the ability to apply these standards to evaluate the credibility and quality of news and other content. It also means recognizing the critical role of the First Amendment and a free press in a democracy and developing responsible information habits that promote engaged and constructive participation in civic life.
(c) Beginning with the [school year], the state board shall have established media/news literacy standards to update [existing required middle or high school course]. The updated course shall include, but is not limited to, the following competencies:
- Differentiation: Distinguishing between news and other types of information and demonstrating an ability to recognize both traditional and non-traditional ads.
- Role of the press: Understanding the importance of the First Amendment and how it provides for a free press in the United States, both to act as a “watchdog” to protect the public interest and to ensure that the public has access to credible information to meaningfully participate in democracy.
- Standards of quality journalism: Learning the ethical guidelines and standards —including verification, accuracy, fairness, transparency and independence — that work to produce valuable, high-quality journalism, and applying those standards to evaluate the quality and credibility of news and other information.
- Critical thinking and analysis: Demonstrating effective personal verification skills, including the ability to detect and debunk misinformation and faulty evidence, and a healthy skepticism when approaching unknown or suspect sources of information.
- Responsibility and empowerment: Recognizing the impact that misinformation has on the lives of others and on the national conversation; showing a sense of responsibility for sharing accurate information with others; and indicating greater confidence and empowerment to be civically engaged.
(d) The State Board of Education shall also make available instructional resources and professional learning opportunities to promote the development of this instruction and shall also provide these opportunities and resources to all educators across subject areas to help them integrate media/news literacy concepts and skills into their respective curricula as dictated by the individual districts.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect upon becoming law.