AI Misinformation Concerns Underscore Need for News Literacy Education

National News Literacy Initiative Targets AI Misinformation Among Teens

The seventh annual National News Literacy Week launched this week with an urgent focus: equipping teenagers with critical thinking skills to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape dominated by artificial intelligence-generated content and viral misinformation.

Running from February 2-6, the initiative brings together the News Literacy Project, the E.W. Scripps Company, USA Today, and the USA Today Network to provide educators with free instructional resources designed to help students evaluate information sources for reliability, accuracy and fairness.

“Gen Z and Gen Alpha need to learn how to confidently navigate through a sea of AI-slop and viral rumors that fill their feeds,” said Charles Salter, president and CEO of the News Literacy Project. “National News Literacy Week is an opportunity for educators to equip their students with the skills they need to make informed decisions about what to trust.”

The timing of this year’s campaign coincides with growing concerns about the proliferation of AI-generated misinformation and its impact on young people’s media consumption habits. A recent national study conducted by the News Literacy Project revealed troubling attitudes toward journalism among American teenagers, with 84% expressing negative views of the press. Many participants in the study characterized news media as deceptive or inaccurate.

This skepticism represents a significant challenge for news organizations attempting to maintain credibility with younger audiences who have grown up in a digital environment where fact and fiction often blur. Media literacy advocates argue that teaching critical evaluation skills can help reverse this trend.

Adam Symson, president and CEO of Scripps, emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing these challenges as part of its public service mission. “Today’s young people are inheriting a world where truth has to fight harder than ever to be heard,” Symson noted. “As a trusted news publisher, the Scripps News Group has a public service responsibility to help people navigate an increasingly complex information environment.”

The initiative comes at a critical moment for journalism, as the media industry grapples with declining trust, digital transformation challenges, and the rapid advancement of AI technologies capable of producing convincingly realistic but fabricated content. These developments have created an environment where distinguishing between legitimate news and misinformation requires increasingly sophisticated analytical skills.

Educators and media literacy specialists suggest that developing a healthy skepticism toward online content can paradoxically lead to increased trust in legitimate journalism. By teaching students how to identify markers of credible reporting, fact-check claims, and recognize bias, news literacy programs aim to foster more discerning news consumers.

“Local journalism plays a critical role in helping our readers understand what’s happening in their communities, and that role matters even more in an era of AI-generated falsehoods,” said Michael Anastasi, senior vice president of local news for USA Today Network. “Teaching young people how to evaluate information critically is essential to building trust in credible, fact-based reporting.”

The News Literacy Project, which leads this initiative, operates as a nonpartisan education nonprofit working with schools, libraries and community organizations nationwide. Its programming has reached students across all 50 states, providing curriculum materials and professional development for educators focused on media literacy instruction.

The organization’s approach emphasizes practical skills that help students distinguish between various types of information, recognize reliable sourcing, and understand how news is produced. These competencies have become increasingly vital as social media platforms continue to serve as primary information sources for younger generations.

Industry experts note that news literacy education represents one element of a broader societal response needed to address misinformation challenges. Technology companies, policymakers, and news organizations all face pressure to implement more effective measures for identifying and limiting the spread of false information online.

As National News Literacy Week continues, participants hope to spark ongoing conversations about information credibility that extend beyond the classroom and into homes and communities throughout the year.