MINNEAPOLIS — Confronted with a flood of false, misleading and divisive content online, Minnesota’s largest newsroom is launching a statewide effort to help students learn how to separate fact from fiction.
The Minnesota Star Tribune Local News Fund on Tuesday announced the launch of its News Literacy Initiative, a partnership with the News Literacy Project and ThreeSixty Journalism at the University of St. Thomas. The initiative will provide news literacy education, training and access to trusted journalism for Minnesota teachers and students in grades 9 through 12.
The program launches during National News Literacy Week, observed Feb. 2–6, a nationwide campaign highlighting the need for education that helps students navigate today’s complex and often deceptive information landscape.
“The crisis in Minnesota these last few months has only highlighted the challenges we face separating fact from fiction online,” said Steve Grove, publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “This partnership reflects our responsibility as Minnesota’s largest newsroom to support students, educators and communities with trusted journalism and essential news literacy skills.”
Through the initiative, the Star Tribune and its partners will work to expand access to credible news, equip educators with classroom resources, and mentor the next generation of journalists.
“The speed and volume of information coming from Minnesota remind us all how important it is to have credible news and information to turn to – and how difficult it can be to sort through online feeds full of AI-slop, rumors and divisive falsehoods,” said Charles Salter, president and CEO of the News Literacy Project. “Through this partnership, more of Minnesota’s students will learn the skills they need to find information they can trust.”
“Civically healthy communities pursue accurate information, parse complex truths and find shared reality together. Young Minnesotans value these skills and are eager to practice them. The News Literacy Initiative meets that energy with investment and commitment to equity,” said Kenzie O’Keefe, executive director of ThreeSixty Journalism.
The News Literacy Initiative will raise money through donations and grants to the Minnesota Star Tribune Local News Fund to support a coordinated, statewide approach to news literacy education.
Funds raised will be used to:
• Expand digital access to trusted news.
The Star Tribune aims to provide complimentary digital access to all Minnesota schools, teachers and students, removing paywalls and allowing classrooms to engage with verified, local journalism.
• Invest in news literacy education.
The News Literacy Project will serve as the Star Tribune’s exclusive news literacy education partner, providing free resources, tools, training and subject-matter expertise to educators statewide. The first teacher training session is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 18.
• Mentor future journalists.
In partnership with ThreeSixty Journalism, the initiative will support student news organizations and journalism programs through mentorship, newsroom tours and interactive skills-building workshops led by Star Tribune journalists.
To mark the launch, the Minnesota Star Tribune Local News Fund will host Strib Livestream: Behind the Videos on Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. CST. Moderated by Allison Kaplan, the livestream will feature video journalist Amanda Anderson, graphics reporter Jake Steinberg and digital designer Anna Boone discussing how the Star Tribune used video forensics to explain what occurred in the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Recent research underscores the urgency of the effort. According to the News Literacy Project’s 2024 survey, News Literacy in America: A Survey of Teen Information Attitudes, Habits and Skills, eight in 10 American teenagers report seeing conspiracy theories on social media at least once a week. Among those teens, 81 percent said they believe at least one of those theories, while just 15 percent said they actively seek out news to stay informed.
At the same time, the survey found broad support for news literacy education. Ninety-four percent of teens said news literacy should be required in schools. Students who had received news literacy instruction were more likely to engage in civic activities, accurately identify AI-generated content and report higher levels of trust in news media.
The Minnesota Star Tribune Local News Fund, the News Literacy Project and ThreeSixty Journalism said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening journalism, education and civic engagement by ensuring young people have the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions.
