Media literacy is about accessing, analyzing, evaluating, creating, and engaging with information. Whether news comes from a print newspaper, an online story, a social media post, a radio program or podcast, a video presentation, or other formats or channels, being able to critically evaluate sources and information is essential to being a well-rounded citizen. 

During U.S. Media Literacy Week (October 24 – 28, 2022), organizations across the country promote the importance of media literacy education. The Library offers a number of resources and programs that provide insights and access to the ways we gather, report, and respond to information about our world.

Suggested Reading, Watching, Learning

Explore a collection of books, films, and resources that highlight journalism, newsmakers, and the ways our society shares and processes news and information.

Misinformation Games

Research has shows that just five minutes of playing the game like “Go Viral!” can reduce an individual's susceptibility to misinformation for up to three months. Check out the games below to help you learn about and identify misinformation, trolls and deepfakes, and hopefully have some fun while you do it.

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Media Literacy Week 2022

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Missouri Ballot Measures Presentation

This list is designed to reflect the sources the League of Women Voters of Kansas City, Jackson, Clay Platte Counties (LWVKCJCP) used to create their presentation for September-October 2022 Ballot Measure Information Sessions at the Kansas City Public Library."There will be several ballot measures on the November 8 general election ballot which require voter approval. One of these measures directly affects Kansas City and would allow the state legislature to require Kansas City to increase police spending without state reimbursement. Among other measures on the ballot, one would call for a Missouri Constitutional Convention while another would seek to legalize recreational marijuana and expunge nonviolent marijuana offenses from criminal records."

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Program

Want to become a better news consumer? From understanding the workings of Wikipedia to determining how to think critically about what you read, watch, or listen to, this series of daily online Media Literacy Week programs celebrates five core components: Access, Analyze, Evaluate, Create, and Act.

Be #VoteReady | Friday, October 28, 2022 | Noon

The webinar features speakers from the League of Women Voters, Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet, RevEdKC, KCUR, and the Kansas City Star.

They'll discuss:

• Voting guides available to Kansas Citians and how they were developed.
• How to keep your guard up when election misinformation is possible.
• Resources for doing your own research for the mid-term elections.
• Reliable sources of information for elections and election security.
• The new photo ID requirements, including that you can use an expired federal or state photo ID as long as it was current as of November 4, 2020.
• Early voting (begins October 25) and polling locations.

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Resources

Navigate the News with PressReader

Looking for more ways to stay informed about what’s happening in your community, nation, and the world? PressReader is a digital service that gives you one place to view the news – whether it’s from local, national, or international sources. Your Kansas City Public Library card gets you unlimited access to over 6,000 newspapers and magazines from around the world, in 60-plus languages – no subscription required.

• Read well-known publications such as the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Popular Science, Esquire, Variety, and Highlights.
• Conveniently read publications from other countries, including Mexico, the United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Germany, and the Republic of Korea.
• Search by subject. Explore news on topics such as music, design, sports, and food and drink.
• Create your own home feed with selected publications, and view top stories from across the U.S. or other countries you choose. Save articles to your own customized collections.
• Use the mobile app to enjoy access on the go.
• Engage kids with PressReader’s offerings of youth-friendly content and publications.

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The New York Times Digital Pass

You can enjoy FREE digital access to The New York Times, courtesy of the Kansas City Public Library. Your library card lets you sign up for a renewable 72-hour complete access pass to NYTimes.com -- no paywalls.

• Access from any Library location, from your home, or from other sites.
• No cost. No limit on the number of articles you can click and read.
• Read the latest news on your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
• Works with existing NYTimes.com accounts and new registrations.

Try NYTimes.com Digital Pass »

More News Resources From Your Library

The Library offers a number of news databases and access to the digital collections of many local and national newspapers and magazines.

Browse these publications’ digital archives for past issues:

• Kansas City Star:

  Image Edition (archives available back to 2013)
  Text Edition (archives available back to 1991)

• Kansas City Business Journal
• Kansas City Hispanic News
• New York Times - Digital Microfilm (Full-image newspaper scans from 2008 – present)
• Wall Street Journal - Digital Microfilm (Full-image newspaper scans from 2008 – present)
• NewsBank provides a comprehensive collection of reliable news sources covering a wide array of topics and issues. Browse publications’ archives, explore trending topics, and even find classroom lesson plans based on daily headlines.

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