The non-profit organization News Literacy for Arizona is hosting seminars at schools, libraries, and community centers. The workshop focuses on news literacy’s importance, journalism’s role in a democracy, and more.
Michelle Beaver, News Literacy for Arizona Founder and Executive Director, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the goal of these seminars.
Beaver said the organization aims to help Arizonans navigate today’s information landscape and make decisions based on facts. The seminars are available to people ages 13 and older and provide tools for evaluating the information they encounter.
“We don’t change anybody’s minds; we give them the tools to make up their own minds,” Beaver said. “We give them tools to make up their own minds.
The workshops cover several topics, including the influence of algorithms, journalism’s role in democracy and the importance of developing a diverse news diet.
She also explained the difference between misinformation and disinformation. While both involve false information, the key difference is intent.
“Misinformation is like a mistake,” Beaver said. “With disinformation, it’s also false but spread with the intention of deceiving or manipulating.”
Beaver encouraged people to think about the information they consume and not immediately accept everything they read or hear. She recommended using fact-checking organizations and comparing information with traditional news sources.
She also advised people to research who is behind the information they consume by visiting an organization’s website and looking into its background.
The organization also emphasizes journalism’s role as a watchdog in a democracy. Beaver said the workshops provide examples of how journalism has helped hold governments, institutions, and individuals accountable.
Beaver said News Literacy for Arizona also encourages people to maintain a balanced news diet by consuming information from a variety of sources and perspectives.
“A diverse news diet is all about balance,” Beaver said.
The organization uses the analogy of a dinner plate to explain its approach. Traditional news sources make up the main portion of the meal, while left- and right-leaning sources can provide additional perspectives.
Beaver said the lessons can especially resonate with teenagers because they want to know how to identify the truth for themselves.
“That’s what we help them do,” Beaver said.
