Media Literacy and the Civic Mission of Schools

Thursday, October 27, 2022 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET

Hosts: iCivics/CivxNow, Media Literacy Now, News Literacy Project

Our country and constitutional democracy can only thrive when schools prepare the next generation to be literate and independent consumers and producers of news and media. That mission can only be achieved when schools first reflect a broader civic mission. For decades, that mission has been under resourced in terms of both funding and time on topic. The bipartisan Civics Secures Democracy Act offers an opportunity to invest a billion dollars a year for the next five years in civics and U.S. history, explicitly calling out functions of media literacy. Come learn about how the media literacy community serves as a linchpin to getting this bill to the finish line and reclaiming the civic mission of schools.

The objectives of this event are to:
– Learn how media literacy education is an essential consideration as advocates seek the revival of schools’ civic mission.
– Understand the opportunities the Civics Secures Democracy Act provides the media literacy community.
– Be empowered to serve as active advocates for the bill and the civic mission of schools it supports.

Panelists:
– Ebonee Rice, Senior Vice President of the Educator Engagement Group, News Literacy Project
– Erin McNeill, President and Founder, Media Literacy Now
– Monica Valdes, Social Studies Chairperson and Film Teacher, West Miami Middle School
– Moderated by Ace Parsi, Director of Coalition Engagement, iCivics