Think All About It by Nassibah

Think All About It by Nassibah - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

In the past few years, there's been a lot of discussion by educators and pundits about how Generation Z is on track to be much more news-engaged and politically involved than their parents were. With the rise of online activism and the ease of communication that social media provides, their assessment is understandable. After all, we are one of the first generations in human history to have abundant and live information at our fingertips. But as a Gen Zer on the ground, I'm beginning to notice a concerning trend.

My peers are no doubt passionate about their convictions concerning current events, and that is definitely something to be admired. However, news coverage and analysis surrounding live reporting can be dishonest or inaccurate. Measures have been taken by social media and news sites to quell misinformation, but these measures aren't always effective. It's my belief that the ability to distinguish misleading or outright false information from the truth is an important life skill. That's why I'm in favor of implementing media literacy courses in educational curriculums.

If young people are willing to be civically engaged, it's important we do it in a scholarly way. Media literacy education provides us with the academic and practical tools to do so. The ability to think critically and examine the media that we consume is more relevant now than ever, and considering the trajectory of digital and social development, I don't think the merits of such a skill are going away any time soon.

The practical application of media literacy isn’t the only reason why I think it's such an important skill to learn and teach. As an established radio journalist and aspiring print journalist, I’m personally invested in the way people interact with media. It’s my hope that in the future, the content I produce is absorbed in a meaningful way, and that journalists such as myself are held accountable not just by our journalistic integrity, but by the individuals that we report to. A big step toward achieving that dream is to require media literacy courses in school.