edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsTrial by Media? The Free Press and the Criminal Justice System
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT
Presented by Meghann Cuniff, Legal Affairs Journalist; Jostin Grimes, Senior Manager of District Partnerships, West, The News Literacy Project; 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.
In today’s fast-moving information landscape, investigative journalism plays a critical role in uncovering the truth. Yet journalists face growing challenges and threats to press freedoms.
Join us for an engaging edWebinar—just in time to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2025—about the work and impact of investigative reporters in the criminal justice space, and what students can learn from this fascinating field. The News Literacy Project’s Brittney Smith and Jostin Grimes will lead a conversation with Meghann Cuniff, a legal affairs reporter known for her deep reporting on high-profile court cases (including recent cases involving Sean “Diddy” Combs and Megan Thee Stallion). Meghann will discuss how she researches and reports on complex legal proceedings.
Attendees will learn how this important domain of journalism sheds light on complex systems, including the criminal justice system. You’ll also get a hands-on look at the Checkology®️ virtual classroom, a free, digital learning platform that helps students develop essential news literacy skills.
You’ll leave with actionable strategies for equipping learners with the tools to think critically about the news and how it is reported and to understand the importance of press freedoms. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage your students with one of today’s most compelling topics! This edWebinar will be of interest to middle and high school teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenters
Meghann Cuniff is a longtime journalist with extensive experience reporting on trials and legal affairs. After graduating from the University of Oregon, Cuniff worked at The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, and the Idaho Statesman in Boise, Idaho, before moving to California in 2013 to work at the Orange County Register and, eventually, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, a legal newspaper. Cuniff also worked at ALM/Law.com and Law & Crime News and now runs her own independent publishing operation. Her reporting has led to numerous appearances on radio and television shows. Her Twitter coverage of federal court hearings about a lawsuit over Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis earned first place for “best use of social media by an independent journalist” at the 2021 Los Angeles Press Club Southern California Journalism Awards.
Jostin Grimes is the Senior Manager of District Partnerships (West) at the News Literacy Project. Jostin previously worked at Soundtrap for Education, where he was responsible for engaging and activating student collaboration and creativity for K-12 districts across the United States with the audio tool Soundtrap. He also was responsible for facilitating learning for over 200 educators and working with regional partners to support student voice and creativity through podcasting, storytelling, and music making. Before that, Jostin worked as a Program Manager at STEM To The Future, a Los Angeles-based non-profit, and as a K-1 educator within the Kipp Atlanta Schools network. Jostin is a graduate of Morehouse College and works to connect with other leaders and stakeholders on how to support Black and Brown students and communities.
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.
