The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was established in 2024 to deepen NAMLE’s impact and expand its mission through a formal partnership with youth leaders in the media literacy community. This initiative brings together high school and undergraduate college students who are actively engaged in advancing media literacy education and amplifying youth perspectives within the field.
As collaborators, YAC members play a central role in shaping NAMLE’s work. They offer valuable insights that inform major NAMLE campaigns—including Media Literacy Week—contribute to organizational priorities and advocacy efforts, and co-develop projects and resources that resonate with educators, students, and communities nationwide. Council members also engage in peer-to-peer learning, outreach, and leadership development through their work with NAMLE. Through their ongoing involvement, council members not only influence media literacy education but also grow as leaders and collaborators within a national professional community.
The Youth Advisory Council embodies NAMLE’s belief that youth perspectives are essential to building a more media literate world and that meaningful youth participation strengthens the relevance, accessibility, and impact of media literacy education overall.
Pranav was a youth panelist at the 2024 Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) annual conference, highlighting key issues among younger generations regarding online safety, digital well-being, and the future of the Internet.
While in high school, Maggie was a MediaWise Teen Fact-Checker for the Poynter Institute, where she made educational videos on spotting misinformation online.
Sadie presented to her school’s board of education about the usage of AI in education. This opportunity allowed her to share a student’s perspective on AI’s impact on learning and inspired her to further her media literacy knowledge.
Later in the year, Sadie spoke with other staff and students from neighboring schools through Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). In this discussion, students were able to talk to a group of administrators and teachers, answering their questions and offering insightful feedback.
Lucia was named to the NYC Chancellor’s Honor Roll for Journalism in her senior year for her journalistic work within the local community.