News About the News:

Corey Hutchins: Inside the news in Colorado Click Here to Subscribe 

Recordings of Past Events:

From September 2023:

Watch No local news:  The crisis facing democracy - Insights from journalists covering Colorado  here.

This meeting was hosted by the News Access and Literacy Task Force and featured Andy Smith, Editorial Page Editor of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, and Michael de Yoanna, Editor-in-Chief of Colorado Community Media. Our guests shared their personal experiences that reflect the health of the local news industry, evaluated the future of the local news industry, and give their recommendations for local news presentation in the future. 

From February 2023:

Watch Sunshine and Shadows: Balancing the need for public awareness with government efficiency here.

Jeff Roberts, CEO of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, discusses quadratic voting and secret surveys at the Colorado Capitol and other freedom of information-related issues.

From January 2023:

Watch The Fake News Marketplace: How it Works and Why it Matters with Dr. Justin McBrayer here.

Professor McBrayer discusses how misinformation impacts society and the steps we can take to combat this threat.

From February 2022:

Watch Don't Ghost the News: How to Win the Battle for Democracy here.

The League of Women Voters of Larimer County discusses how the loss of local news has a negative impact on democracy.

Recommended Readings, Webinars, Podcasts:

Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy, Margaret Sullivan (book)

Beyond Fake News: Finding Truth in a World of Misinformation, Justin P. McBrayer (book)

PEN America: LOSING THE NEWS

Colorado Media Project: Reimagining Colorado's Public Square  

COLAB: Introducing the Colorado News Mapping Project, Corey Hutchins

There's Already a Solution to the Crisis of Local News. Just Ask This Founding Father. Steven Waldman, Politico

Nieman Lab: Hundreds of Hyperpartisan Sites are Masquerading as Local News. Jessica Mahone and Philip Napoli

More Money and Fewer Readers: The Paradox of Subscriber Journalism, Jack Shafer, Politico

The LWVCO News Access & Literacy Task Force's purpose is to inform and engage members across the state to promote collective actions around our access to news and important matters related to news literacy as they are strongly aligned with a stated League position(s). By increasing the understanding and importance of this issue through education, this Task Force hopes to influence public policy and legislation at all levels through advocacy, while speaking with one League voice. For more information about our task force, click here. For more information about the League of Women Voters of Colorado, click here.

Disinformation. Conspiracy theories. Extremism. Surveillance. Our democracy is threatened as never before by toxic online content. The social media giants seem unable, or in some cases unwilling, to control the flood of lies and manipulative practices. The staggering — often hidden — reach of Big Tech into our lives endangers civil society, our civil rights, and our privacy. In a "post-truth" world we risk losing the shared understanding that underpins our democracy. 

Each month, the League of Women Voters of Maine and the League of Women Voters of Alaska explore a different facet of this crisis with guest experts. Join us to learn, discuss, and work on possible solutions. 

To learn more, click here.

Freedom of Information Resources:

• The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition (CFOIC) is a nonpartisan alliance of groups, news organizations and individuals dedicated to ensuring the transparency of state and local governments in Colorado by promoting freedom of the press, open courts and open access to government records and meetings at the state and local level.
• CFOIC’s Sunshine Laws is a guide to Colorado's open meetings and open records laws and is available in an online format that is searchable and indexed by topic. The guide covers Colorado Open Records Act, Colorado Criminal Justice Record Act, and Colorado Open Meetings Law.
• US Department of Justice, FOIA.gov, is a site that can help you determine if filing a FOIA request is the best option for you, and help you create your request when you are ready.