Passport to Media Literacy Welcomes Travelers on Mis/Disinformation Journey

Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-709-5959
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Baylor University Libraries will host “Passport to Media Literacy,” an interactive media literacy experience from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the Garden Level Learning Commons of Moody Memorial Library. The event is sponsored by local NPR affiliate KWBU-FM, Baylor’s Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media and the Baylor Libraries. 

Passport to Media Literacy will enhance understanding of news media through interactive experiences guided by subject experts. As participants arrive, they will receive a passport. As they journey from experience to experience, they will collect stamps and receive KWBU swag and a Dr Pepper float when their passport is full.

Event organizers hope that as participants travel through the planned experiences, they will come away with skills to help them navigate information gathered from the Internet and social media, particularly during a politically charged election season.

“Media literacy is essential in today's information-rich environment, especially as we have seen lately with the upcoming election, where misinformation and disinformation are prevalent,” said Ellen Filgo, library liaison for Journalism, Public Relations and New Media. “Becoming media literate empowers students to critically evaluate sources, discern credible information and avoid being misled by false narratives. These skills help students develop critical thinking, academic integrity and responsible digital citizenship, which are vital for academic success and informed participation in society.”

Each Passport to Media Literacy experience will explore different forms of media and challenge participants to enhance the way they discern between trustworthy sources and misinformation.

“I am most excited about the opportunity to connect students with resources to empower them to become smart media consumers, particularly as we get closer to this year's election,” said Rachel Velasco, KWBU community engagement coordinator. “It’s critical that students learn the skills to evaluate media and information so that they can be confident in their ability to make decisions. I’m proud that KWBU is a local resource that the community, including the student population, can put its trust in. And I’m proud to partner with the Baylor Libraries and the Journalism, Public Relations and New Media Department to bring this interactive event.”

Bringing a breadth of perspectives from national public media, librarianship and the Academy to this experience will provide participants a well-rounded perspective on media literacy.

“I hope attendees become more informed about the importance of being critical thinkers when consuming media messages. The legitimacy of media content has become more difficult to gauge,” said Mia Moody, Ph.D., professor chair of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media. “With online and social media, we are inundated with mass media messages. Sometimes, it is difficult to figure out if the information is from a credible source. Media literacy programs help students decipher between misinformation, fake news and credible information.”

For more information, visit the Passport to Media Literacy event website.

ABOUT BAYLOR LIBRARIES

The Baylor Libraries lead as an innovative research library that undergirds scholarship, fosters teaching and learning and builds communities. Comprised of Moody and Jones Libraries along with world-renowned special collections that include Armstrong Browning Library and Museum, The Texas Collection and University Archives, The Institute for Oral History, the Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society, and the Baylor Collections of Political Materials, the Libraries drive research at Baylor University and beyond. For more information, visit the Baylor Libraries website.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.