Our children are growing up in a world where it’s hard to know what to believe. A recent study by the News Literacy Project found that 81% of teens who encounter conspiracy theories online are inclined to believe them, while many struggle to differentiate between opinion journalism, sponsored content and paid advertising. And unfortunately, it can be just as confusing for adults.
With misinformation spreading at unprecedented rates online, news literacy – the ability to determine the credibility of news and information – is more important than ever.
National News Literacy Week, held February 3-7, underscored the critical role of local TV and radio stations in equipping consumers to navigate today’s complex media environment. Co-founded by The E.W. Scripps Company and presented alongside the News Literacy Project and USA TODAY, this year’s initiative reinforced the urgent need to help students and the public distinguish between credible journalism and misinformation.
Scripps Led the Charge in News Literacy
As one of the nation’s largest local TV broadcasters, Scripps and its national news brand, Scripps News, played a pivotal role in last week’s efforts, helping young people develop critical thinking skills to assess the trustworthiness of information.
“Today’s bewildering information and content landscape requires careful navigation in order for Americans to be thoughtful news consumers,” said Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson. “Scripps, its nationwide group of local news stations and our national news outlet Scripps News are proud to help in the effort to educate and equip young people with the skills they need to sift through the barrage and create well-informed opinions.”
Scripps reinforced this commitment through on-air and digital efforts, providing fact-based reporting and educational resources throughout the week to strengthen media literacy.
Broadcasting’s Role in Trusted Journalism
Beyond National News Literacy Week, local TV and radio stations continue to invest in investigative reporting and community-focused journalism to ensure Americans have access to accurate, verified news. Industry-wide efforts include:
- CBS News Confirmed, a dedicated unit focused on identifying deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation.
- FOX’s Verify, a tool to enable users to authenticate the origin of digital content across participating media outlets.
- Hearst Television and FactCheck.org‘s partnership, which produces in-depth segments analyzing misleading narratives.
- NBCU Academy, which provides extensive training and educational tools for aspiring journalists and media professionals.
- Local radio stations, which continue to expand long-form news programming and podcasts, including Audacy’s Looped In: Chicago and iHeartMedia’s Philadelphia Community Podcast.
As misinformation continues to evolve, local broadcasters will remain at the forefront of efforts to provide trusted, fact-based journalism and ensure news consumers of all ages are equipped to recognize credible reporting.
Learn more at WeAreBroadcasters.com.
