How journalists can champion news literacy, empower communities, Wednesday

In today’s connected society, everyone is a publisher. Our phones alone grant us unparalleled opportunities to share stories not only among friends and family, but also help take videos, photos, and audio viral in what can seem like seconds. And despite someone’s best intentions, they may be helping to spread harmful rumors and misinformation, especially during times of crisis.  

What role — and power — do members of the public have in halting or spreading mis- and disinformation, and what ethical considerations should they make before sharing a video or story?

Register now to join the National Press Club Journalism Institute for a robust discussion among experts whose work focuses on news and information literacy and finding ways to help the public fact-check the information it receives.

This virtual session, taking place at 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 24, invites journalists, educators, community leaders, and the public to explore practices to help empower individuals to “stop the spread” of harmful information through ethical, personal decision-making.

Participants will learn: 

  • Practices to reach some of the communities most vulnerable to mis- and disinformation campaigns
  • How to talk about disinformation in ways that instill trust among communities traditionally underserved by mainstream media 
  • Tools to empower members of the public to champion their roles as information clearinghouses in their peer groups and communities

Panelists include: 

This free webinar is part of the Institute’s four-part training series focused on ethics in the age of disinformation. The series, produced in part with funding from the Inasmuch Foundation, is designed to provide tools and best practices to support ethical, trustworthy journalism.


You can watch part one of the series on framing the disinformation crisis for journalists here and the second part on how journalists can build and support a culture of credibility here.