If so, you aren’t alone. A Pew Research Center survey found that 70 percent of respondents felt overwhelmed by the amount of news and information from different sources; 72 percent believed that news organizations tend to favor one side; and 80 percent said that news organizations are often influenced by powerful people and organizations. The McCormick Foundation’s answer to this dilemma is a new project called Why News Matters. You’re invited to this Intergenerational Summit that will provide ideas on being a wise consumer of news and information. Members of four generations will put their heads together to highlight some easy-to-use skills that help individuals determine “fact from fiction,” in the news and information that comes from print, technology, and in everyday life.
The Summit will be held in Chicago at the Metcalfe Building, 77 West Jackson, 3rd. Floor from 8:45 to 3:45.
The event is free but registration is required. Registration: www.WNMsummit.com (this link no longer works 8/2021 note) is open until August 8 or until the limit for each generation is reached.
For additional information, contact Jane Angelis, genSERVEgen@gmail.com or 773-896-6485
Why is this important? Below is information from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s web site:
"With the overwhelming flood of information, it’s harder than ever for consumers to distinguish news from noise. A Pew Research Center survey found that 70 percent of respondents feel overwhelmed by the amount of news and information from different sources, and 72 percent think most sources of news are biased.
A healthy 21st Century democracy relies on informed citizens with the ability to access and analyze information. For example, research from Stony Brook University suggests that students who have taken a news literacy course are more likely to register to vote, volunteer and consciously increase their exposure to news than students who have not taken the course.
The Foundation wants to help Chicagoans understand Why News Matters. Media organizations, high schools, universities, two-year colleges, community organizations, libraries and others all have a role to play."
To learn more, view this brief video:
The Summit is intended to bring together educators and leaders of non-school youth-serving organizations to share ideas and look at strategies for engaging youth and adults in an on-going effort to understand Why News Matters. Break out Sessions will share ideas for "Judging News and Information for Accuracy" and will encourage Organizations and Individual participants to Join in Creating and Awareness of Why News Matters.
Generations Serving Generations was established as the Illinois Policy Academy on the Civic Engagement of Older Adults in 2008 through the National Governors Association Center for Bet Practices. Illinois was one of 14 states selected to participate in the project designed to improve the health and lives of older Americans and increase their civic engagement through service, learning, and work. Generations Serving Generations is a public/private partnership led by Director John Holton, Illinois Department on Aging, Peggy Luce, Vice President of the Chicagoland Chamber, and Brandon Bodor, Executive Director, Serve Illinois Commission, Office of Governor Pat Quinn.
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