Why News Matters is a $6 million grantmaking program of
the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. It is designed to enhance
news literacy skills and programs in Chicago and nationwide.
A healthy 21st Century democracy relies on informed citizens with the ability to access and analyze information. Research from Stony Brook University suggests that students who have taken a news literacy course are more likely to register to vote, volunteer and consciously increase their exposure to news than students who have not taken the course.
With the help of the Education Development Center, the McCormick Foundation is organizing peer-based clusters, scheduling periodic grantee meetings and forming an advisory panel to review research and performance evaluation activities.
In early 2013, EDC collected evaluation capacity information from a cohort of 25 Why News Matters program grantees. The survey asked such questions as past experiences, staff knowledge and organizational preparedness to carry out evaluation activities. The initial results found a great diversity of projects, needs and expertise and a varying understanding of news literacy (and news) varies.
In 2013, the Foundation will prioritize evaluation around three questions:
View our comprehensive news literacy evaluation logic model, which provides baseline indicators and desired targets for the short-and long-term.
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This 24-page Program Evaluation Guide by the McCormick Foundation is designed to provide nonprofit organizations methods, examples, and worksheets.
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(Common Sense, NLP, Pulitzer, Stony Brook)
| 2011 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 19 | 44 |
| # of High School | 13* | 26 |
| # of Middle School | 6 | 18 |
| High School Students | 3291 | 2616 |
| Middle School Students | 743 | 2210 |
| Teachers Participating in programs | n/a | 147 |
*data taken from logic model [all other 2011 data is taken from the metrics worksheets]
| 2011 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 89 | 136 |
| # of High School | 80* | 104 |
| # of Middle School | 9 | 32 |
| High School Students | 1639 | 1398 |
| Middle School Students | 160 | 664 |
| Teachers Participating in programs | n/a | 126 |
*data taken from logic model [all other 2011 data is taken from the metrics worksheets]
The 4Cs of the learning standards—critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration—are all addressed in news literacy training.
plays a very significant role as a news source for youth, according to Harvard’s Berkman Center and the News Literacy Project.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
were trained in news literacy education in 2013 as of Aug. 1, 2013.
college students and adults in Chicago have participated in 2013 Why News Matters projects.
number of Chicago students (from middle school through high school, in CPS schools, non-CPS schools and after-school programs) reached through Why News Matters news literacy trainings as of Aug. 1, 2013 compared with 4,826 in 2012.
News Literacy programs provide a frame of reference to distinguish fact from fiction, opinion or propaganda.
Clark Bell, McCormick Foundation Journalism Program Director
In 2010, more than 60 local journalists volunteered to participate in Chicago news literacy programs.
From the McCormick Journalism Program
Active partnerships through the News Literacy Project are changing the fabric of communities through in- and after-school programs in 2013-14.
Why News Matters is a $6 million grantmaking program of
the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. It is designed to enhance
news literacy skills and programs in Chicago and nationwide.