The News Literacy Project and The E.W. Scripps Company are teaming up to launch a national public awareness campaign to promote news literacy and the role of a free press in American democracy. This comes as information – and misinformation – surge around recent national events. The campaign is part of the second annual National News Literacy Week, which runs from January 25 to January 29. The week aims to promote news literacy as a fundamental life skill and to provide the public with the tools needed to be an informed and empowered populace. Click here for more resources and a quiz to test your ability to spot fake news.
You don’t see Cameron Seaman, Kadee Davenport, or Brooklynn Maberry when you watch our newscasts - but without them you wouldn’t see anything at all.
“I expected a lot of work to go into making the news, but it’s a lot more than I originally anticipated,” said Cameron. He is is director of the the 9 p.m. newscast that we broadcast on The CW channel. That means he pushes the buttons and has to be split-second accurate to make everything show up on your TV screen when it’s supposed to - video, graphics, and more.
Kadee and Brooklynn help move the huge cameras around in the studio.
“I’ve definitely learned really good communication skills. It’s easier for me to talk to people in the real world,” said Davenport.
“I feel like I know things more (because) I work at a news station because I normally wouldn’t be watching the news if I was just sitting at home,” said Maberry.
Oh, and let’s not forget they’re all also in school. Cameron and Kadee are seniors in high school, and Brooklyn is a freshman in college.
Cameron can see himself having a career in the television industry: "I definitely feel like working here is definitely a stepping stone to something much larger,” he said.
As for Kadee and Brooklynn? They’re not yet sure about their future careers.
“I’ve definitely thought about (a career in the television industry) and it’s definitely one of my options,” said Maberry.
“I think, when I get out of high school, I’ll probably visit other things and discover other things. But I might come back. I don’t know,” Davenport said.
Keeping an open mind - a good idea in an industry full of possibilities.
NEWS LITERACY: Quizzes - how "news literate" are you?
