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Cracking the Code: How AI Shapes What We See (and What We Miss)
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT
Presented by Mia Sato, Reporter, The Verge; and Dr. Brittney Smith, Senior Manager of District Partnerships, East, The News Literacy Project
Sponsored by News Literacy Project
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
From shaping our social media feeds to influencing the news we see, algorithms and artificial intelligence are transforming the way we consume information. But how do these technologies work, and what impact do they have on our ability to distinguish fact from fiction?
Watch the News Literacy Project in an in-depth conversation about the evolving role of AI and algorithms in news and social media. Learn directly from reporter Mia Sato, who covers the tech world and AI’s influence for The Verge. Explore the rise of AI-generated content, machine learning systems that use data to shape our information bubbles, and the challenges posed by deepfakes. Throughout this edWebinar, we equip you with strategies to help students develop a more critical approach to digital news consumption.
By the end of the recorded session, you’ll be armed with information about the ongoing evolution of AI, a deeper understanding of how we shape—and are shaped by—algorithms, and a toolbox of resources to support you in teaching your students. We highlight Checkology®, our free, interactive e-learning platform designed to help educators like you provide essential news literacy skills to students. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to middle and high school teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenters
Mia Sato is a reporter at The Verge covering tech companies, platforms, and users. Since joining The Verge in 2021, she’s reported on the war in Ukraine and the spread of propaganda on TikTok; Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter and his role in the Trump administration; and how tech platforms and digital publishers are using artificial intelligence tools. In 2023 she was named a finalist for a Livingston Award, which recognizes the work of journalists under the age of 35.
Dr. Brittney Smith is a Senior Manager of District Partnerships (East) at News Literacy Project. Dr. Smith joined NLP in July 2022 after eight years of teaching life science in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a high school teacher to diverse populations of students, including English language learners. In her tenure as science department chair, she focused on building partnerships with community stakeholders to enrich and improve students’ educational experiences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological science from the University of Cincinnati, a master’s degree in teaching science to adolescents and young adults from Mount St. Joseph University, and a doctorate in educational practice and innovation with a STEM focus from the University of South Carolina.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the News Literacy community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
The News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan, national education nonprofit, provides programs and resources for educators and the public to teach, learn and share the abilities needed to be smart, active consumers of news and information and equal and engaged participants in a democracy.
