Breaking the Algorithm: The Role of Information, Data, and Local Journalism in a Fractured Media Age

Media literacy is no longer just about discerning fact from fiction—it’s about navigating an information landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, cognitive biases, data-driven narratives, and evolving digital ecosystems. At the speed of modern media, misinformation isn’t just an occasional hazard; it’s an engineered force, exploiting our cognitive tendencies and trust in traditional sources. How can we prepare learners to not only detect falsehoods but also develop the critical reasoning needed to engage meaningfully with the media?