With misinformation on the rise and democracy in decline, the public needs new tools to navigate the news - here is how you can help
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has released a policy brief to bolster news literacy education across the UK. This initiative comes in response to the growing concern over the spread of misinformation and its impact on communities.
Since May, UCLan's Media Innovation Studio has been gathering experts from various fields like media, policy, education, and civil society to figure out how to better equip the public with the tools they need to navigate today’s complex media landscape.
Now the university unveiled its findings in the form of a policy brief, titled Citizens and the News: Strategies for Securing News Literacy Education in the UK. The goal is to ensure a more informed and critically engaged public, which is essential in the fight against disinformation that has fueled unrest in parts of the country.
The policy brief is part of the larger News Futures 2035 project, an 18-month collaboration supported by the Google News Initiative and Research England. The project brought together more than 300 industry professionals, academics, and policymakers to brainstorm the future of trustworthy public-interest news in the UK.
Read more: Building a better future for public interest news
Led by Dr. François Nel, along with colleagues from UCLan’s Media Innovation Studio, the team has developed a plan for strengthening news literacy education. Their approach focuses on three main strategies:
Nel emphasised that in today’s rapidly shifting media environment, the ability to distinguish between real and fake news is a crucial skill. "Our capacity to differentiate between fact and fiction is essential for a functioning democracy," he said.
The policy brief is just the beginning of the News Futures 2035 initiative. Moving forward, UCLan plans to launch the News Futures Forum, a space where stakeholders from different sectors can collaborate to secure the future of public-interest journalism.
"By working together across sectors, we can create a future where the public actively engages with trustworthy news sources," Nel said. "There’s no better time than now to act on news literacy education."
For those eager to read the full policy brief or get involved with the ongoing efforts, visit the Media Innovation Studio website. You can also fill out an interest form to stay updated on the progress of the News Futures Forum.
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
Sign up to receive job alerts of your choice by email, or manage your subscription
Featured recruiter: click to view its vacancies
The UK’s largest independent investigative journalism organisation seeks a fact checker with proven experience in fact-checking or editing journalistic content, ideally investigations. Hybrid working
Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news, tips, jobs and more
End that deadline stress today and find help in our freelance directory
Kindred Forest partners with Volker Lehmann and local families to bring Wild Beniano Cacao from the Amazon direct to the UK for first time. The Wild Chocolate bar blends rare flavours and sustainability: 20 per cent of profits go to rainforest conservation
Our next Newsrewired conference will be in May 2025, London.
Conferences and study weeks are fantastic opportunities to get the latest updates on the industry and network with your peers
Awards are a great way to have your hard work recognised by industry experts and celebrate your teams. Here is where you can apply
If you find your social feeds a tad too heavy on men's voices, follow and connect with these fantastic women experts on indie media
How do you move print readers to digital? Are there other ways to hold on to subscribers besides a last-ditch deal?
