Report: New Jersey Governor Phil MurphySigns a Law to Make N.J. First State to Require Media Literacy for K-12

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:

New Jersey has become the first state in the country to require public schools to teach media literacy to K-12 students as a way to combat misinformation, under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Phil Murphy.

Advocates say the measure will help students who are bombarded with information from social media and news outlets learn how to discern whether the sources are credible. Media literacy will be required at every grade level.

“Our democracy remains under sustained attack through the proliferation of disinformation that is eroding the role of truth in our political and civic discourse,”Murphy said in a statement. “It is our responsibility to ensure our nation’s future leaders are equipped with the tools necessary to identify fact from fiction.”

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The bill was overwhelmingly approved last month by the Legislature with bipartisan support. It was backed by the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, which believes it will change the education landscape in the state.

“Living in the digital era gives us access to endless information, but not all is equal. That is why it’s so important to prepare students in New Jersey with a robust information literacy education,” according to a statement byAssembly Democrats, including Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt (Camden), a bill sponsor.

Learn More, Read the Complete Article and Statement and Additional Details (via Governor Phil Murphy)

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