Looking Beyond the Headlines: Critical Media Literacy Workshop for ESSPA High School Students
By Zeynep Saka Lloyd | October 21, 2026
On October 13, 2026, CODE^SHIFT welcomed a group of high school student journalists from the Empire State School Press Association (ESSPA) to the lab at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School for an interactive workshop on critical media literacy, led by Dr. Srividya Ramasubramanian, founder and director of CODE^SHIFT. The workshop brought together high school students from various school districts, offering an opportunity for participants with varied interests and experiences to engage with critical media literacy. Through discussions about journalism, writing, photography, and digital media, students shared different perspectives on how information is created, presented and interpreted.
The workshop began with an introduction to CODE^SHIFT and its community-engaged research, followed by discussions about how we interact with media in our everyday lives. Working in small groups, students shared their thoughts on what makes news credible, how they evaluate information, and how media bias influences our understanding of the world. One student described news literacy as “filtering out bias to find truth,” highlighting the importance of questioning the information we encounter.
Through examples from advertising and news coverage, Dr. Srivi Ramasubramanian encouraged students to look beyond the headlines and consider how word choices, images, and different perspectives can shape the same story. The discussions also explored misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, as well as the importance of recognizing whose voices are represented and whose perspectives may be missing.
Throughout the session, students actively participated, asked thoughtful questions, and shared their own experiences and observations. The workshop offered an opportunity to connect academic ideas with everyday media experiences while reminding us that critical media literacy is not only about becoming more thoughtful consumers of information, but also more responsible creators and storytellers.
It was a pleasure to welcome these curious and engaged young minds to CODE^SHIFT and share a space for learning, reflection, and meaningful conversations. Do reach out to us at NHCodeShift@syr.edu if you are interested in hosting a workshop at your school or organization.
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