(WNY News Now) – New York – Governor Kathy Hochul, joined by State Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa and State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray, met with education leaders to discuss the development of a new ‘Media Literacy’ toolkit for educators. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to address the surge in online hate speech and misinformation, particularly following a notable increase in such activities in November 2023.
“The rising tide of hate online is putting all New Yorkers at risk, especially our kids,” Governor Hochul said. “Last year, I directed the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to develop a media literacy toolkit to help our educators teach their students how to spot misinformation, and I look forward to releasing the final product to help keep our kids safe online.”
The toolkit aims to provide educators with comprehensive resources to teach students how to analyze, evaluate, and assess media, including social media content. The Governor’s office has worked with experts to ensure that the toolkit is ideologically neutral, focusing solely on enhancing media literacy skills among students.
The meeting included discussions with BOCES District Superintendents from across the state, who provided input on the toolkit’s development. Commissioner Bray will lead further discussions with experts and stakeholders to refine the toolkit, with a target release date set for the end of 2024.
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