Media literacy becomes an increasingly prominent topic in internet and real-life spaces. This refers to the process of analyzing, synthesizing and understanding different sorts of media such as news sources and social media content by utilizing critical thinking. In recent years, hundreds of individuals voiced their concerns surrounding the decrease in media literacy as misinformation and artificial intelligence (AI) generated content floods the internet. Fortunately, the teenage-led organization Rhizome recently hosted an event at the North Cobb Regional Library on November 20, aiming to promote education on media literacy.
The Rhizome organization aims to promote teen civic engagement through community projects. Within the organization, participants are involved in planning and executing events based on a topic of their choice, such as mental health and voting registration. These events each hold the purpose of positively impacting the world and educating communities.. Currently, 13 Rhizome chapters actively participate in the organization within the U.S., which includes Rhizome’s Atlanta, Georgia Chapter. This Chapter currently holds 10 members, including NC magnet junior students Dalyah Arauz, Nina Holt, Matthew Mayette, Trinity Thompson and five other students from various cities in Georgia.
Weeks before fall break, black and white posters hung all over the NC campus, depicting an image of a photoshopped cat with a printed newspaper between its paws. A simple font hung above and below the photo stating, “Are you media literate? Come find out,” along with the date, time and email for the event’s marketer, magnet junior Ray Edrish.
“I truly do think that media literacy is fundamentally important. In a world where anti-intellectualism and carelessness for critical thinking keep rising, I believe it’s urgent that people know that being able to interpret the media is important. We were hoping to help people know what media literacy is, more specifically, how to build the skill of being media literate. Our panelists did an amazing job converting all the messages that we, as a chapter, wanted to convey. I hope that the event has encouraged people to look more closely at the media and analyze it,” Edrish said.
At the beginning of the event, attendees received the challenge to analyze two excerpts from different articles. The articles provided to viewers focused on the topic of New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mandani’s meeting with President Donald Trump. The difference between these two articles remains in the author — one written by a human at NPR, the other by AI. Participants decided on the reliability of each article and numerous individuals seemed unsure of the credibility of the two.
During the event, organizers invited two panelists, Olivia Berry, a journalist at Vox and Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School junior, Halie Irving, to discuss media literacy. Katie Hunt, one of the organizers of the event, asked various questions pertaining to topics of decreases in media literacy in the U.S., utilizing critical thinking while consuming media such as news, spreading of misinformation through AI-generated and sponsored content, interpreting media using media literacy and others. In response, the panelists replied with thoughtful responses regarding the topics of becoming a sensible consumer of media.
The hosts and panelists of the event strongly encouraged participants to grow aware of dangers around AI-generated and sponsored content, which aim to create misleading or outright wrong statements. Panelists suggested that consumers of news media look into multiple news sources, varying in bias and accuracy, and to treat all news sources equally. Berry and Irving also asked that all listeners approach all non-fictional and fictional forms of media with critical thinking by asking what it wants to say.
At the end of the session, spectators engaged in a Q&A discussion, in which the students asked any questions about topics such as non-fiction media and the digital divide. In response, the panelists answered several questions with well-articulated and thoughtful responses, expressing their extensive knowledge of the topics that others brought up. By the end of the event, participants left pleased with newly-gained knowledge and media interpretation skills.
“I attended just to check it out and try to learn more about the subject. My favorite thing about the event was how they started it off with a bang. I loved how they made us guess between literature that was [AI] generated and literature that was actually written and gave us tips on how to spot it. I kind of wished that they talked a little bit more about racial and gender disparities within media literacy, but it was still cool,” magnet sophomore Lelia Quaynor said.
Rhizome strives to create opportunities for hundreds of youth around the nation to involve themselves in changing the world. Students interested in participating in Rhizome should consider contacting Edrish. Rhizome’s website holds additional information for students who may desire extra insight into the organization. Overall, the event left a positive, inspirational effect on the people who attended by providing the local NC and Atlanta community with the important skill of media literacy.
