Fitchburg State University will host a summer institute this August for K-12 and college educators to help them prepare students with lessons on news and information literacy. The free conference is also open to those interested in learning more about the role of quality journalism in a healthy democracy.
The program will include a keynote address by Northeastern University School of Journalism Professor Dan Kennedy entitled “What Works: The Future of Local News” at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12 at the Fitchburg Historical Society, 781 Main St. The address is free and open to the public. Kennedy’s teaching focuses on opinion journalism, media ethics and the future of local news. With Ellen Clegg, Kennedy hosts a website and podcast, “What Works: The Future of Local News.” The two have also co-authored a same-titled book on the subject.
The journalism conference happening Aug. 12-14 is led by Associate Professors Kyle Moody and J.J. Sylvia of the Communications Media Department, Associate Professor Wafa Unus and Assistant Professor Collin Syfert of the English Studies Department, Head of Instruction and Information Literacy at the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library, Renee Fratantonio, and Professor Paul Weizer of the Economics, History, and Political Science Department. This team of faculty members has jointly led various initiatives on news and information literacy over the past several years.
Learn more about the conference and register at fitchburgstate.edu/academics/academic-schools/school-arts-and-sciences/communications-media-department/summer-institute-journalism-education.
State educators who register for the conference are also eligible for a stipend. This includes K-12 educators, college and community college instructors, and emeritus faculty.
In addition to the keynote with Dan Kennedy, sessions will include Fitchburg Access Television Executive Director Nathan Glenny, Sentinel & Enterprise Editor Brendan Lewis, Worcester Telegram & Gazette Editor Mike Elfland, Harvard Press Editor John Osborn and Dr. Zahed Arman of Framingham State University.
“Our objective is to offer an advanced course in developing news and information literacy lessons and courses for educators,” said Moody, whose own scholarly work has included an exploration of “fake news” in the social media age. “We will provide teaching materials and networking opportunities for educators interested in addressing issues of news literacy within their institutions.”
Unus, one of the co-creators of Fitchburg State’s political journalism minor, alongside Political Science professor Paul Weizer, has advocated for the importance of local journalism and the dangers of emerging “news deserts.” She said she is hopeful the institute will help foster an appreciation for the importance of journalism to healthy communities.
“The success of local journalism is dependent on community support in more ways than subscriptions and cheerleading. In order for local news to survive, the community needs to better understand its value and the impact of its loss,” she said. “By helping grade school educators provide substantive news and information literacy instruction, we are hoping to reshape the way in which future consumers of news engage with information, thus allowing for the intended outcome - a better informed citizenry with the requisite knowledge to make decisions critical to the functioning of our democracy.
“When I’ve given fake news talks across the Commonwealth, I’m struck by the extent to which media literacy needs to be taught and engaged with by our democratic citizens,” added Moody. “This summer institute gives us the opportunity to help our fine educators learn and apply those media literacy skills to the next generation of voters and news consumers.”
Those interested in learning more about the conference should contact Moody at kmoody4@fitchburgstate.edu or Unus at wunus@fitchburgstate.edu.