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News Access and Literacy  News Access and Literacy

An Informed Citizenry


A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both.

James Madison, 1822


The Founding Fathers recognized that an efficient communication network was needed to inform and unite the country. The Post Office Act of 1792 provided for reduced postage for newspapers, which were considered essential to an informed citizenry.

 

The mission of the News Access and Literacy Team is to educate, collaborate and advocate on the importance of news access and news literacy to that ideal of an informed citizenry and its role in democracy.

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Our Positions

Local News

The League of Women Voters supports the following as being essential to a healthy democracy: barrier-free access to credible news, in whatever format it is published; control of news content remaining exclusively with news organizations, regardless of the form of support given; and media literacy throughout the community as a whole. Positions for Study and Action 2023-24


Citizen's Right to Know

The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible.

News Literacy: Essential for Democracy

News literacy is the ability to judge the credibility or trustworthiness of news and to recognize misinformation and disinformation.

 

The League of Women Voters encourages everyone to become more news literate. We’ve gathered a wide variety of carefully vetted resources, designed to enable citizens to determine the credibility and reliability of their news sources.


Please visit our News Literacy page.

References

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News About the News
News About the News

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

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Recordings of Past Events
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 efficiencyhere.

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.

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Recommended Readings, Webinars, Podcasts
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

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LWVCO News Access and Literacy Statewide Task Force
LWVCO News Access and Literacy Statewide Task Force

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.

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Digital Democracy
Digital Democracy

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.

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Freedom of Information
Freedom of Information
  • 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.