Student @ Palos Verdes High School, Member @ NAMLE’s Youth Advisory Council
What do you do?
I am a member of NAMLE’s Youth Advisory Council, where I work with fellow high school and college students on media literacy campaigns, advocacy, and outreach. I also lead journalism and media literacy workshops at local middle schools to teach students how to identify, engage with, and produce responsible reporting.
Tell us about your latest work or project in media literacy.
As a part of NAMLE’s YAC, I am working on creating content for our upcoming “Your Media, Your Choice: Media Literacy Basics” campaign. Our campaign’s goal is to help students understand what media literacy is, why it matters, and how to practice it in everyday life. I scripted, filmed, and edited a video that shows how to debunk and fact-check viral claims on social media using NAMLE’s Key Questions.
Last month, I was also invited to speak at a Teen Tech Week panel to share my perspective on phone bans. It was a really unique experience getting to hear directly from educators and students experiencing different school technology policies!
Why is media literacy important to you?
Media literacy matters to me because it shapes how we process information and become informed, independent thinkers. In an unpredictable digital world, media literacy serves as a guide that helps me engage with, evaluate, and analyze content instead of passively letting myself believe everything I see online.
I see media literacy as a form of empowerment, and I believe that every person deserves access to tools that help them make the most out of their digital experience. Media literacy is our pathway towards an equitable society.
What are you most excited about in the media literacy field?
Our generation faces a unique and challenging position in the media landscape. As the first generation to grow up in a tech-centered world, we are at the forefront of media as consumers and creators. Oftentimes, this comes with the assumption that we understand technology, clickbait, and AI better than others, but this is not always the case. Just like everyone else, we deserve access to tools that help us critically evaluate and navigate the media we encounter daily.
I am excited by the potential for our generation to bridge this gap together using our creative and technical skills. Working with NAMLE has shown me the power of youth to drive positive change. Together, we can be more intentional about the media we engage with.
Why did you become a NAMLE member, what benefits do you see to membership, and how will it support your work?
I became a NAMLE member because I wanted to join a community that values diverse voices in education and prioritizes accessible resources. As a high schooler, working with NAMLE has led to opportunities that I didn’t know were possible for teenagers to get involved in. It has been inspirational working with and being a part of a community of educators, researchers, advocates, and community members that share a passion for media literacy.
NAMLE’s free resources have also helped me reframe the way I view media literacy. I’ve learned that media literacy isn’t just about distinguishing fact from fiction, but rather piecing together information about the motives, messages, and marketing behind a piece of media and drawing one’s own interpretation from it. NAMLE encourages me to be a thoughtful thinker, and I hope to apply the skills I learn to create informational, inclusive content that helps others embrace media literacy.
The views and opinions expressed in the M-Passioned Member blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NAMLE or its members. The purpose of the M-Passioned Member blog is to highlight our members and give them a place to share their reflections, opinions, and ideas.