Why I Chose Public Relations

By: Emma Grile

One of the most dreaded and common questions I get asked as a college student is, “What are you going to do in the future?”

For about a year my answer was always, “I have no idea.”

Thankfully, I found the Integrative Public Relations program and now have an answer for this question.

When I applied to Central Michigan University, I thought Communication was a great place to start. My entire freshmen year I took communication classes and enjoyed them. However, I felt that there was something missing. I couldn’t quite place a finger on it, but I knew that I needed to keep searching for my major.

This previous summer, I noticed that one of my classes was canceled. I quickly got in touch with my advisor to fix this issue. I asked him if we could add a business class, as I was still exploring my options. He looked directly at the computer camera and asked if I had any interest in public relations. I felt a bit on the spot since I really hadn’t thought about the IPR program at all.

After discussing the program in detail, I had a feeling that I had found my place. So, on Sept. 5, the first day of IPR 101, I was feeling confident as ever. Dr. Ren is one of the most organized professors I have come across at CMU and is also very enthusiastic about the IPR program. I knew after the first few classes I wanted to major in public relations. Shortly after, I joined PRSSA and haven’t looked back.

The IPR program at CMU is one of the best in Michigan. I have noticed that everyone I meet who is an IPR major here at Central, are all very driven and responsible individuals. I was impressed with how professional and welcoming the IPR program felt. Finding a major that made me feel complete has improved my college experience. I look forward to the future of studying IPR and will forever be grateful for my academic advisor.

International Marketing in Amsterdam

By: Jolie Chene

This past summer I got the opportunity to study international marketing abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Through this experience I was able to meet and work with students across the United States with the same interest.

Over this four-week, three-credit course, I met with businesses in Amsterdam who explained to us how they market internationally to other countries outside the Netherlands. We looked at different PR and marketing plans companies use to market outside of their target geographic audience. My class and I helped map out a PR plan for a new geographic audience the company did not already work with and different ways to connect with that country.

We heard from different companies in Amsterdam explain how they communicate and market to other countries such as Spain, England and Germany. We learned that it takes a different approach to sell the same products to different businesses and geographic audiences. This also gave us the opportunity to brainstorm new ideas and other ways to approach marketing in the U.S.

In this course we also looked at big corporate brands such as Nike, Chanel and Apple and studied how their marketing strategies differed between countries. We compared ads from the U.S. and the Netherlands, saw the way companies cater to their different audiences as well as looked at product sales from one country to the next and how each audience accepts products differently.

This opportunity has allowed me to grow my knowledge of marketing, international business, a new lifestyle outside of the U.S. and an overall life-changing experience.

I Experienced My First PR Internship, Here's How It Went

By: Sofia Randazzo

This past summer, I got hired as a PR Intern for PARC-Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex.

PARC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit located in Plymouth, Michigan. Since its opening in 2015, PARC has been the Plymouth community's go-to place for theater, art, music, dance, culinary, education, fitness and recreation events for all ages provided by over 50 groups. PARC's aim is to lease office, studio and rehearsal space to organizations that offer a wide range of activities.

My biggest project during the summer internship was to help promote the theater inside PARC, the Jack Wilcox Theater. The theater isn’t just used for plays; it is also used for recitals and concerts, and as the theater seats are retractable, the space can also hold meetings, parties, receptions, fairs and more.

I helped market the theater through the use of graphic design, content creation, cover letter creation and contacting local theater groups, dance teams, photographers and private schools to see if they were interested in potentially renting out the theater for their events.

To begin with design and content creation, I created digital flyers to send out via email, a graphic for PARC’s digital billboard, designed the email cover letter as well as produced visually appealing social media posts showing off events that have been happening inside the theater. I also had the job to scan the PARC website and come up with ideas on how to advertise the theater better, as their website is the most popular source for potential customers to visit.

As for contacting companies and organizations, I had to do extensive research to find which organizations are close by, if they already have event space for themselves, if they were the right fit for renting the theater, etc. I created the cover letter on Canva and wrote a brief overview of who PARC is, what the Jack Wilcox Theater is, what it provides and why we think it would be a great fit for them. I sent out about 20 cold emails to organizations of different backgrounds around the city of Plymouth and Canton, and ended up successfully recruiting a theater group to rent the Jack Wilcox Theater as a place to hold their plays.

I learned a lot throughout the three months I spent working as the PR intern for PARC. The most important thing I learned working in PR is that it takes time and consistency to see results. At the end of my internship, I was disappointed I was only able to recruit one organization through my hard work. But I kept reminding myself that big results don’t appear overnight, especially for a nonprofit in a small city. I set up PARC to continue the habits I started for them and guaranteed that if they remain consistent with the cold emails, visually appealing graphics and advertising weekly on social media, new faces will be coming in asking about availability for the theater.

I am super thankful for the opportunity I had with PARC. Being their intern, I strengthened my skills in social media management, graphic design, writing, planning and content creation, all of which will heavily benefit me for my future career in PR.

Diversity in PR

By: Cydney Foster

The public relations industry continues to advance its practices. While growth is shown throughout the industry, it still lacks diversity efforts. In a career that represents a multitude of clients, it’s vital that PR organizations improve their efforts toward inclusion.

Lack of Diversity

Despite the recent efforts to improve DEI practices, the PR industry is made up of 70% white professionals. A lack of diversity leads to blind spots when completing tasks. Campaigns that fail to represent desired target audiences can come off as disingenuous. To be a well-rounded organization, it is important that employees represent all backgrounds to provide depth to organizational initiatives.

Diverse Voices in the Workplace

Having a diversified PR workforce allows employees to have different perceptions when working together. A team made up of people who think similarly will inevitably get the work done, but the work will lack multiple viewpoints. Employees from different backgrounds can display their unique abilities as professionals. Having a diverse team will improve clients’ overall satisfaction.

Client Connections

In today’s digital world, PR professionals can work with clients from all over the globe. While this is exciting, it is important that employees communicate interculturally with clients. Whether it is work-related, or deals with traditions and holidays, having a diverse PR team can help connect with clients across diverse backgrounds.

To conclude, companies all over the world are improving their diversity and inclusion efforts. PR being an industry that values connection, it is vital that organizations are open to diversity by promoting a welcoming and comfortable work environment for not only their employees but also their consumers and clients.

Upcoming Changes For CMU PRSSA

By: Sofia Randazzo

For the next upcoming school year, PRSSA e-board has collectively decided CMU PRSSA needs a few tweaks within the chapter. As a chapter, PRSSA wants to make it a more welcoming environment for new members with more personal meetings to get to know everyone as a whole.

The Meeting Room

Currently, our meeting room is in a big lecture hall with all seats facing the front of the room. To make things more personal, e-board has decided to have meetings in a smaller classroom with tables and/or desks so all members can be closer to one another. 

For committee meetings, the usual routine is to split up our three committees into different rooms to talk about their specific assignments. E-board has decided that splitting up the committees makes members feel as if they have to choose one committee and stick to it, even if they have multiple interests. For next school year, committee’s will stick together in one room and everyone gets to collaborate together so all members feel like they have a say for each. 

In our current lecture hall, e-board sits in the front row seats all together, while members scatter around in the back. In order to make members feel more included and welcomed, e-board will sit in different spots around the classroom so members do not feel as excluded.

General Members

Starting next year, PRSSA will present a survey for members to take asking what they want to see from PRSSA so e-board can base their meetings off what the members want.

In the beginning of each semester, we will have a more detailed breakdown of PRSSA to freshmen and new members so they aren’t lost or confused on what the chapter is and what the chapter does. 

Some members choose not to come to meetings because they think PRSSA dues are mandatory to be a general member. Next year, PRSSA is to emphasize more that if a member only attends general meetings, no dues are required to be paid; dues are paid only if the member also attends committee meetings.

General Meetings

PRSSA wants to become more personal with their members. In order to make this happen, PRSSA will have less guest speakers, more icebreakers to get the conversation flowing, more workshops and interactive activities. By doing this, members can get to know other members a bit more and feel comfortable during meetings.

There are a few general meetings that members have enjoyed. Next year, PRSSA plans to hold more branding kit nights, pitch-off nights and DEI nights, as those have been the most popular. There will also be the newannual #FireUpIPR Competition. This is a campaign competition that PRSSA hopes to hold once a year, with the very first one slated to take place at the final meeting of this year, April 26! This will be held as an interactive general meeting, with a real-world client to serve as a guest judge for the night. Members can work in teams or individually to compete for prizes and build the most creative campaign!

Lessons Learned Leading CMU PRSSA

By: Leona Falconer

Ever since I joined PRSSA as a freshman, I knew I wanted to get more involved and take on a leadership role. For integrative public relations students, and even related majors in the media fields, PRSSA is the best option for gaining hands-on experience and making connections in the industry. I immediately saw that and wanted to become a core part of the organization.

Three years later, I am now wrapping up my first semester as president of CMU PRSSA. Just as I predicted, being a part of PRSSA has had the most significant impact on me since coming to CMU. I have expanded upon my classroom knowledge, planned fundraisers and events, networked with industry professionals and received multiple internship opportunities.

As president, I truly got to learn the intricacies of leadership and how to run an organization. At the surface level, I am responsible for assembling our semester meeting schedule, creating social media calendars, recruiting guest speakers and running our weekly meetings.

While these management skills are important, it is the interpersonal communication that goes on behind the scenes that has been most rewarding. Through my presidency, I have made countless connections with alumni, networked within the PR industry, bonded with my E-board and truly learned how to manage all different types of people. These are skill sets that most candidates don’t have the opportunity to develop during college – another unique advantage of joining PRSSA.

A Successful Duck Derby

By: Katie Haley

As this year’s Duck Derby Coordinator, I was pleased with another great year of the Duck Derby. On Tuesday, March 21 hundreds of ducks raced down the lazy river at Soaring Eagle Water Park. Our members launched  the ducks off the start line down the river at 9 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Since February, members have been selling ducks to friends, family and members of the community. We were also able to table at the University Center for two months leading up to the event. The prizes for this year's Duck Derby were:

• 1st place: $200

• 2nd place: A two night stay at Soaring Eagle Water Park

• 3rd place: Apple Airpods

PR Central raised $1,066 from the Duck Derby fundraiser this year. This money goes back to our chapter. We use these funds to help send members to the PRSSA International Conference. This past year, Duck Derby helped send eight members to ICON in Dallas, Texas. We hope to do the same for this year's conference in Nashville!  

This fundraiser would not be possible without the dedication our members have for PRSSA and PR Central and those who support us. PR Central continues to give me meaningful opportunities that propel me in my career. With another successful year of Duck Derby, I hope to see that continue for others in the years to come. 

Thank you again to all those who bought ducks and supported us! We truly appreciate your generosity.

Preparing For Post-Grad

By: Riley Kruer

With the semester coming to a close and my time at Central Michigan University coming to an end, life after graduation is a topic that can be equally exciting and anxiety-inducing. It’s awesome to finally ditch the textbooks and dreaded 8 a.m. classes, but trying to figure out what comes next is terrifying.

As graduation day draws nearer, here are some tips to help you transition into post-grad life that I’ve found to be most helpful:

Start networking if you haven’t already. It’s time to spruce up that LinkedIn profile, clean up your resume and start that job search! Seek out networking events, reach out to old employers and make those connections.

Get your student loans in order. Student loans will be perhaps one of the biggest post-grad challenges you will have to overcome. If you have federal loans, log on to the Federal Student Aid website and figure out how you are going to tackle those pesky payments.

Explore new opportunities. Even though you have your degree, that doesn’t mean you’re finished learning! Look for free online courses, find books based on your career prospects and soak up any experience you can.

Take care of yourself. With classes, extracurriculars and the dreaded job search, it’s important to find time for yourself. Try to set aside some time each day for self-care. Remember that this time does not have to be a full-blown spa day; it can be as simple as going for a walk or curling up with a good book. Take time to unwind, you deserve it!

While this transitional period is undoubtedly scary, it’s important to note that you are not alone. There are many people who are in the same boat as you. Confide in your friends and peers, gain as much experience as you can, and most importantly, have fun. Our college lives aren’t done yet!

Celebrity Advice

By: Ellie Heron

I currently work for the Home Builders Association of Central Michigan, where we just finished our 55th annual Home Show. With more than 2,000 people in attendance, this is one of the biggest events I’ve ever gotten to work on, and while it was stressful, it was incredibly informative. Not only from working on the show itself, but from getting to talk PR with a celebrity in the Home Show environment.

Every year we bring in an HGTV star to talk about building, design and what it's like to work under a spotlight. This year, I got to meet Mark Bowe from the No. 1 DIY Network show, Barnwood Builders. While it was exciting enough to meet a celebrity, the advice he gave as a man who’s made a career out of his brand was the most interesting to learn.

The first thing Bowe shared with our PR team is that metrics are everything. When hiring social media people, Bowe acknowledges that he’s more than happy to pay out thousands of dollars, but there has to be provable change. Being able to show that the work you’re doing makes an impact is how you’re going to be paid. And this isn’t only for social media, as Bowe explained he has to do the same thing to prove to the network why his show should keep going.

His next piece of advice is to take pride in your brand. In the PR world, your reputation is who you are. If your name is going on something, it should be to the best of your ability. Additionally, don’t let something you did wrong hold you back—own up to mistakes and be willing to correct them. Having the ability to own up to your work when it’s wrong is just as important as getting it right.

Bowe’s final lesson was to not hold yourself back. One thing that he was incredibly open and honest about was the fact that he has ADHD, and it impacts the way that he works. During his presentations on stage, there were multiple times where he would trail off on a story before jumping back and explaining that something he had seen was distracting him. Bowe talked with me about both his issues with ADHD and anxiety, and how these don’t need to be things that limit him, he just needs to be able to acknowledge how they change his work, be honest about it and know how to work around it.

Altogether, being able to learn from a person who has built their career on successfully branding and marketing himself was a very interesting experience. Bowe was down to earth and easy to talk to and contributed to an all-around fantastic Home Show.

Passion PR

By: Allison Spens

When you ask a PR student why they study public relations, a common response is because they are passionate about a certain skill used in the industry.  Writing, public speaking and social media are the popular responses. At the end of the day, every PR professional has their own unique passion.

For me – my passion comes from spreading awareness for the arts in creative ways. 

Passions for serving different brands is another reason why practitioners seek a career in PR. Being able to use different communication models to bring attention to a cause or product is a true passion of those within the PR industry. 

Passion is what keeps us going as humans. Incorporating your passions into your career is essential in today’s age. Going into a career in PR and working with what I’m passionate about allows me to have higher motivation to complete my work, and a lower percentage of burnout compared to my colleagues.

Even with my education in the Integrative Public Relations major at Central Michigan University I can pursue a passion while gaining my education. With my minor in music, I am able to further my knowledge and skills in music – and even participated as a member of the Chippewa Marching Band for three years. 

I encourage all PR professionals and students to go into a career and field you are passionate about. The more you care about your work, the better quality your work will be.

Advertising vs. PR

By: Kendall Weishaupt

What is the difference between advertising and PR? As an IPR student, I still sometimes ask this question. These fields have some similarities, but there are many differences.

Advertising is paid media. This means companies and brands pay to promote their products and services. TV commercials, internet/social media advertisements and radio advertisements are a few examples of advertising. These messages are paid for by the company or brand, so the image and message are controlled. The purpose of advertising is to sell and promote.

PR is earned media. This means that there is no payment involved in getting the message out. The message a PR professional is sending comes from the brand or company through press releases, press kits, social media and more. The purpose of PR is to get a message out to the public.

The difference between advertising and PR can be summed up in a few words. Paid media vs. earned media.

How To Become News Literate

By: Cydney Foster

With the recent growth of digital media, traditional media seems to slowly lose its grasp on society. As the digital world grows in size, printed publications disappear everywhere. With the disappearance of newspapers, news deserts have started to form, and people are beginning to turn to social media for their daily news. How does this impact our nation's new literacy?

News literacy is the ability to use critical thinking to evaluate the credibility behind information, whether it is print, TV, or the internet. Thinking critically when getting news is especially important in today's digital age. News is everywhere, but not all news is accurate news.

The overwhelming amount of information that floods us each day makes it difficult to sort out reliable information over fabricated information. With this, we as a society must learn how to engage with all types of news properly. In order to do this, it is important to know what kind of false information lurks online.

Misinformation is defined as false or inaccurate information, especially when it is deliberately intended to deceive. Misinformation has become a growing problem in recent years, with social media becoming people’s main source of information. When individuals see something on social media that aligns with their current beliefs, they tend to think it is factual despite it having no facts to back it up. There are multiple ways misinformation can present itself on social media.

What influences people to trust misinformation? Confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is the tendency of people to seek out information that supports the views they already hold. This can be very dangerous as it leads people to believe things on social media regardless of factual evidence.

Confirmation bias can easily lead us to reach inaccurate –and even unethical– conclusions. It is imperative that individuals develop an awareness of their own confirmation bias and stop them ahead of the tracks.

Sharing misinformation can be completely unintentional, but in some situations, there is the intent behind sharing misinformation. This is referred to as disinformation.

Disinformation is false or misleading information that is knowingly and intentionally created in order to deceive individuals. Individuals who interact/share information to deceive are unknowingly spreading misinformation.

What are some ways you as an individual can become more news literate? First, you can practice fact-checking and verifying information you see online.

If you see something that seems outrageous, do your own research on the story. Always be skeptical when reading anything online. It is important to find at least two other credible sources reporting on the topic. Always follow factual evidence whenever you consume sources of information.

You should also limit how much you rely on emotional responses. This can be challenging, but it is important to look at information objectively, especially news. We, as humans, tend to override our rational thought processes when emotions get in the way. If you see information online that is trying to pull you in emotionally, make sure you research to ensure it is reliable.

Being news literate in today’s age is difficult — but not impossible. If you are aware of the different forms of misinformation and how they manifest on social media, you are able to practice news literacy in your daily life.

For more information and tools about news literacy, check out Newslit.org. The News Literacy Project offers many services for individuals looking to become more news literate in their daily lives. 

The Importance of News Literacy in Young Voters

By: Cecile Nienstedt

Voting is often dismissed as a modern inconvenience—especially in local elections. Voting is a habit enforced and formed over time. Young people are voting less often because they have had less time to form and reinforce the habit of participating in elections. 

Many grew up in households that did not participate in elections; therefore, it was never reinforced. These experiences can create “habitual nonvoters” to “habitual voters,” stated Eric Plutzer, a political scientist at Penn State. Everyone is impacted by what their friends and peers do. However, older people are more likely to have witnessed friends casting ballots over the course of several election cycles.

Another reason for the recent downward trend of Gen-Z voters correlates to a recent poll conducted by Morning Consult that researched patriotic sentiment in America. Gen-Z adults have much lower trust in U.S. government institutions than older generations. They are also much less likely than other groups to say they are proud to live in the U.S. Voting is considered a “patriotic duty”—therefore, the level of patriotism and voter turnout are both relatively low in Gen-Z.

This is an opportunity to improve U.S. patriotism by advocating for Gen-Z to participate in local and national elections to create changes to the government. To achieve justice or reform, we must use the ability to vote for our policymakers. This is possible through news literacy skills and practicing your right to vote. 

To encourage future generations of voters, we rely on our ability to trust information that affects our daily lives. Using news literacy tools such as RumorGuard or Checkology makes checking facts simpler than ever before. Being informed before you vote is a critical responsibility, and we all share it as U.S. citizens to make a difference in our local community and nationally. 

The Role of News Literacy in the Entertainment Industry

By: Riley Kruer

It’s a tale as old as time: you wake up in the morning and begin to scroll through social media only to find a video online teasing an upcoming movie. Excited, you click on it and watch the entire thing. It looks incredible, and you scroll down the comments to see many others sharing your sentiments. However, your excitement quickly fades as you see multiple comments stating that the video is fake. You pull on your detective cap and very quickly see that the trailer isn’t as accurate as you once thought. 

Now, when people think of fake news, they think of topics such as politics and healthcare, and rightfully so. With the rise of social media, many people are intentionally and unintentionally sharing things that aren’t true or distorted to fit a particular agenda. Unfortunately, fake news is not limited to these serious topics. They have made their way into the entertainment industry as well, in music, television and film. 

The most common form of misinformation in the entertainment industry comes in the form of hoaxes and fake leaks, which are actually a form of disinformation. To clarify, disinformation is defined as deliberate and malicious content used intentionally to mislead, while misinformation is defined as false or inaccurate information. Whether it be fake trailers like in the scenario listed above or a slew of fake tweets from your favorite actor, news literacy is arguably just as important in the entertainment industry as it is with more serious subjects. 

So, what are some good ways to become more news literate when you’re reading news about your favorite shows or celebrities? Well, thankfully, organizations like the News Literacy Project have many resources and tips for people to use. However, if you’re more of a detective and want to figure these kinds of things out for yourself, keep these tips in mind:

1. Ask yourself who created the content you’re looking at. If the source isn’t reputable or doesn’t have a ton of knowledge on the subject, perhaps give the information a second thought.

2. Is the headline trying to clickbait me? Does the headline seem like it's trying to elicit an emotional response from you? If so, it may not be as credible as you initially thought. 

3. Check other sources. If you’re like me and can’t always determine whether or not something is true, it helps to visit other sources that you know are credible and see if they have covered the topic. 

If you’re interested in news literacy and want to explore more tips and resources, please visit newslit.org to check out the News Literacy Project's resources. They have great tools that people of all ages and backgrounds can use to determine whether or not the latest trailer of your favorite movie is real or just trying to hype you up. 

What is a News Desert?

By: Katie Haley

News deserts are rural or urban communities with limited access to the sort of credible,  comprehensive news and information that feeds democracy at the grassroots level. More than 200 counties in America are considered news deserts with no access to a newspaper. News deserts are becoming more frequent in our country, making it more difficult for Americans to have reliable news outlets. New deserts are becoming most prominent in rural regions where media sectors are not being recognized or reached. 

You may be asking, why is this happening? The answer is simple. Print news has seen a major decline within the last decade. News organizations are failing to adapt and produce an alternative. This is because of the shift in the business model. After our country suffered a massive public health crisis where reliable news was more important than ever, organizations lost funds and employees to adjust accordingly. Consequently, this left journalists and reporters without jobs.

Without reliable news sources, people are turning to social media, which isn’t always credible. For example, Facebook pages are people's opinions and not factual news. The opposite, however, is those community members that are not digitally connected and go without being informed. Individuals that are not informed or able to plug into those proper news outlets can affect more than just themselves, but the community at large. 

The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan national education nonprofit. They launched a campaign in 2022 to help new consumers identify factual news. The campaign was focused on “being informed, not misled.” For information and resources, visit newslit.org. 

What Is IPR?

By: Sophia Wittbrodt

If you are an IPR student, you have probably been asked, “What is IPR?” It is a fairly common question about the program. Let’s give a rundown of what the IPR program really is for those who are curious, students who are interested in the major and students who are currently majoring in it who may need more information. 

IPR stands for Integrative Public Relations. It is an interdisciplinary major, including courses from broadcast and cinematic arts, communication and journalism departments. Having a combination of departments makes the IPR major at CMU stand out. The course load focuses in those three departments, but there are also elective classes offered and an internship required. This past summer, students interned at Dow Chemical Company, Lansing Lugnuts, Truscott Rossman, Chateau Chantal Winery, National Cherry Festival, Brilliant PR and Marketing and more. The courses offered in the IPR program teach you how to put together media kits, write press releases, plan events, develop social media and design communication plans. Everything you learn in class will prepare you to go into an internship and career confidently. 

If you are looking for more than just classroom experiences, the IPR program offers two organizations for students to join, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and PR Central (PRC). PRSSA provides opportunities to attend professional development workshops, national conferences, networking events, socials and agency tours. It also provides an amazing network of peers and professionals. Being a member of PRSSA makes you eligible to be a member of PR Central, a student-run PR firm that works with real-world clients and provides hands-on experience in the field. 

If you are looking for a major that offers a wide variety of opportunities, IPR might be the place for you.

Communicate Critically

By: Leona Falconer

Without context and consideration, information posted online can cause irreversible damage. News consumers have endless resources to seek information, but it can be challenging to discern credible sources from misleading ones.

This can cause disinformation to spread in the form of hoaxes, propaganda and conspiracy theories. It is in all of our hands to combat misinformation and spread credible communications through the practice of news literacy.

Creating a news-literate society starts at the source – with journalists. They safeguard the public from misinformation and promote unbiased news coverage.

Reporters must follow a strict code of ethics to seek the truth and report it accurately and transparently. Quality news organizations commit to not just reporting the facts but backing it up with reputable data and sources. This means providing context and explaining how they collected it, analyzed it, built their database and made it verifiable.

However, this isn’t always the case in online news reporting today. Consumers must also practice news literacy in order to sift through the constant barrage of information and conflicting stories.

The public must also be mindful of the information they share or repost. News consumers are an important piece of the news cycle and also contribute to the discourse that takes place online. They can be just as responsible for the spread of misinformation as news organizations and journalists.

With this in mind, news consumers must actively work to hone their news literacy skills to stay sharp and keep on top of the constant barrage of information. A fantastic resource to learn about and practice news literacy is the News Literacy Project.

This nonpartisan education nonprofit offers platforms, apps, tips and quizzes to hone your news literacy skills. Take advantage of their free resources to become a more engaged and empowered member of society!

Debunk Misinformation

By: Molly Anderson

In today’s digital world, we are constantly bombarded by news and information from a variety of sources. So, how do we know what to believe and what sources to trust? The first step is to learn the fundamentals of news literacy. But what’s news literacy, and why is it important? Let’s begin!

Without news literacy, we’d be lost in our social feeds and drowning in disinformation. Today, the truth and facts compete for attention against viral rumors and conspiracy theories, but news literacy can teach you how to think about the news and information you encounter on a daily basis and how to combat disinformation.

It may seem overwhelming at first; however, organizations and resources are available to guide you on your journey to becoming news literate. The News Literacy Project (NLP) is a nonpartisan education non-profit building a national movement to create a more news-literate America. The NLP defines news literacy as “the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information and to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on.”

While the media strives to be transparent, as news consumers, we must also engage and become more news-literate to debunk the misinformation we are confronted with every day. With the technology we have at our fingertips, it is easy for a rumor to spread, a picture to be taken out of context or opinions and perspectives to be taken as the truth. We each have a role and a responsibility to close the credibility gap and stop misinformation.

By using the NLP’s tools and resources, we can learn how to identify what news and information we can trust, share and act on, to become better-informed, more engaged and empowered in our democracy.

Don’t get caught off guard. Use RumorGuard!

RumorGuard is a platform that teaches people how to identify credible information and debunk viral rumors. The platform uses real-world examples of misinformation and provides an overview of fact-checks by walking users through the process of evaluating how and why a rumor might be false. Each post teaches and uses five major factors of credibility that users can learn to apply to evaluate other questionable claims they may encounter online.

The NLP’s five factors are:

• Source: Has the information been posted by a credible source?

• Evidence: Is there evidence that proves the claim is true?

• Context: Is the context accurate?

• Reasoning: Is the claim based on sound, valid reasoning?

• Authenticity: Is the information authentic, or has it been edited, changed or completely made up?

Test your knowledge with Quizzes!

How news-literate are you? Test and sharpen your news literacy skills with short activities, engaging quizzes and shareable graphics.

Identify credible news and reliable sources with Checkology!

The NLP has a free e-learning platform for the public. Checkology’s interactive lessons are taught by journalists and media experts, featuring real-world examples from social media and news sites. Each lesson aims to empower consumers to identify credible information and understand the importance of a free press.

Practice your news literacy skills on Informable!

With the NLP’s free mobile app, you can practice four distinct news literacy skills in a game-like format:

• Distinguishing news reports from opinion pieces.

• Advertisements from other types of information.

• False claims from credible evidence.

• Fact-based statements from opinion-based statements.

Learn about news literacy issues with Is that a fact? podcast!

The NLP’s podcast, Is that a fact?, informs listeners about news literacy issues that affect their lives through informal conversations with experts working to combat misinformation.

For more information about news literacy or the News Literacy Project, visit https://newslit.org/

Ways To De-Stress During the Semester

By: Jolie Chene

Art

One way to de-stress is to try a form of art that you like. Things like painting, drawing and coloring can be very good stress relievers to relax and get your mind off of everything for a little bit.

Going for a walk

In warmer weather, going for a walk can be a good way to relieve some stress. Exercise in general is a good way to boost your mood. Going outside and getting fresh air is really helpful when you're stuck inside studying.

Therapy dogs

Check out the therapy dogs at CMU. Every second and fourth Friday of the month the CMU therapy dogs are outside of Foust where you can go and pet the dogs. If you’re missing your pets from home or just need to relieve some stress, the therapy dogs are a great way to get your mind off of things.

Meditation

Take a few minutes out of your day to try meditating. This can be a good way to take a minute for yourself and relax. Meditation can help reduce negative emotions, even if it's just for a few minutes.

Listen to music

Listening to your favorite music in between homework or studying is a good way to boost your mood and take a few minutes to yourself. Walking to class while listening to music or having it on while you're in your room is a good way to have something for yourself in stressful times.

Ways To Get Involved On Campus

By: Kyra Macomber

Getting involved in on-campus activities and groups can certainly be intimidating when you first start your college experience. For some, it’s easy to jump right in, but my first semester was more like dipping my toes in the extracurricular pool.

I would go to my classes then come back to my dorm and work on assignments and that’s it. By the end of the semester, I had no extracurriculars under my belt. My second semester I joined the Central Michigan University Concert Choir as a way of soft launching myself into campus life, and I tried to attend more events on campus as well as getting an on-campus job. Then, at the beginning of this year, I started attending registered student organizations. Through my experiences, I have broadened my horizons both academically and socially. 

Getting involved on campus at first can be challenging, especially if you don’t know where to start. For CMU, looking at Central Michigan Life publications is where I first found out how many RSOs there are on campus. They send emails talking about the different events happening on campus that week with many being hosted by RSOs. Another place to start would be Engage Central, a website with every CMU RSO, including information about upcoming meetings and events. 

Every semester, CMU has an event called MainStage, where different RSOs go to recruit new members. Here, you can find RSOs that will push you academically, will be well-suited to your specific interests or may introduce you to a new hobby! MainStage is actually where I learned more about PRSSA and decided to join! MainStage for this semester is Jan. 29 and is the perfect opportunity to dive into campus life.

Although it was intimidating, becoming more active on campus is something I’ve never regretted. College is a limited time experience, but getting the most I can out of my time at CMU has fulfilled me academically and socially.