Whitepaper: Media Literacy should be required in K-12 classrooms

In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, traditional literacy skills alone are no longer sufficient. Recent reports reveal alarming gaps: students graduating from high school without basic reading and writing proficiency, and college students widely relying on AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to complete assignments.

These trends expose a critical shortfall in how education prepares young people for a media-saturated society where misinformation, disinformation, and digital manipulation are rampant. Media literacy—the ability to critically assess, analyze, evaluate, and create media content—is essential for students to navigate this complex landscape effectively and responsibly.

Integrating media literacy education into K-12 classrooms is crucial for empowering students to become discerning consumers and ethical creators of information. Through journalism education and cross-disciplinary media literacy instruction, students develop key skills, including identifying bias, understanding the influence of algorithms, evaluating sources, and engaging with diverse perspectives.

These competencies not only strengthen academic learning but also foster civic awareness, leadership, and personal expression, preparing young people to participate meaningfully in democracy and society.

This white paper outlines the urgent need for a coordinated, systemic approach to media literacy in education.

• It highlights effective models, including student-led journalism programs and comprehensive curricular integration, supported by national organizations and policy initiatives.
• By adopting media literacy as a foundational skill alongside reading and writing, schools can equip students with the tools to confront misinformation, think critically, and thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected media environment.

Please download the white paper, Media Literacy Should be Required in K-12 Classrooms.