Moderating the event will be Mary Miller, education services director for the New York Newspapers Foundation’s News Media Literacy Program.

“The goal for, ‘The Fight for Truth in Media’ panel discussion is to increase awareness and foster understanding of how professional journalists verify and distribute information,” Miller said. “In our media-saturated world, it’s increasingly difficult to know what to trust.”

The panelists will be Adirondack Daily Enterprise Managing Editor Peter Crowley, North Country Public Radio Adirondack Bureau Chief Emily Russell, Adirondack Explorer Editor Brandon Loomis and Lake Placid News Editor Andy Flynn. They will explain how they gather, verify and disseminate the news.

“Hopefully, by learning a few news media literacy skills, participants will have a better understanding of how to verify news and information, and limit the spread of disinformation,” Miller said. “Verified, liable information is vitally important to the sustainability of our democracy and our lives. One current example: the disinformation concerning the fight against the spread of COVID-19 including vaccination efforts could contribute to severe illness and death.”

The teen representatives joining the panel will be Astrid St. Pierre from the Lake Placid High School, Reuben Bernstein from the Saranac Lake High School and Libby Gillis from the Tupper Lake High School. They will address where they get the bulk of their news and information and how they determine if it is reliable.

There is time set aside for attendees to ask questions via the chat feature.

Thanks to funding from the Cloudsplitter Foundation and technological support from North Country Community College, the virtual panel discussion is free and open to people of all ages to attend.

Registration is required online in order to receive the Zoom webinar link. Fill out the form at https://form.jotform.com/210684847163158.