{"id":35573,"date":"2026-04-17T00:01:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T04:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=35573"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:00:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T18:00:25","slug":"media-literacy-for-a-young-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2026\/04\/media-literacy-for-a-young-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Literacy for a Young World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Orange<\/a>
Young World by Soman Chainani, set to be released in May (photo courtesy of Penguin Random House)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This May, Soman Chainani returns to the scene with his first original novel in over ten years. Young World<\/em>, published by Penguin Random House, is a political thriller set in the not too distant future where countries around the globe are on the brink of collapse. Chainani blurs the lines between fact and fiction on and off the page to make us all think: Wait, is this really happening?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In recent conversations with book professionals in my neighborhood, the question surrounding Young World<\/em>\u2019s release is often, \u201cHow do we market this?\u201d It\u2019s a question I have spent a number of weeks ruminating on, wondering why this question is at the forefront of everyone\u2019s mind. Is it that Chainani\u2019s other books were marketed for middle grades and this is his first foray into YA literature? Is it that this book toes the line of what we, as adults, think is acceptable for teen readers? Or is it, perhaps, that we don\u2019t feel youth have the skills to discern what is real and what is fake after reading this title?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact vs. Fiction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To market this book, Chainani and PRH have created a website<\/a> to highlight the revolution that occurs within its pages. However, the lines start to blur when site visitors investigate the articles that Chainani highlights from across the globe. Some are real articles that you can research and find more information on, and others are excerpts straight from the novel. How do we teach readers to differentiate between the two? That\u2019s where media literacy comes in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media Literacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As New York State highlights in their \u201cMedia Literacy<\/a>\u201d toolkit for educators, \u201cThe purpose of media literacy education is not to teach people what to think. It is designed to facilitate an understanding of media and its role, as well as develop the skillset necessary to become \u2018critical thinkers, thoughtful and effective communicators, and informed and responsible members of society.\u2019\u201d As librarians, helping to instill these skills into readers is a vital part of our roles, especially as it relates to research. This could be through direct action such as programs, but it can also be through more passive means such as providing resources and information on an as-needed basis. For many librarians, the question then becomes: where do I go for trusted resources?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trusted Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The resources below can assist information professionals in supporting readers, patrons, and consumers as they navigate the ever evolving digital world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NewseumEd: Fact Finder<\/em><\/a> – Navigate the media map to develop skills in navigating the news, bypassing bias, and searching effectively in the endless digital landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Bad News<\/em><\/a> – An online game, created by Tilt, where players leverage fake news strategies to gain followers and control the information universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media Literacy Crash Course<\/em><\/a> – Set of eleven short videos from The Crash Course on YouTube that introduces media literacy, its history, and skills to evaluate media critically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Association for Media Literacy Education: Resources<\/em><\/a> – The NAMLE\u2019s collection of resources for consumers designed to cultivate the skills to analyze and evaluate media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information Literacy Toolkit<\/em><\/a>: <\/em>LibGuide from the University of Maryland Libraries that contains resources for educators and librarians on media literacy, misinformation, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call to Action<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In our vast online universe, discerning what is true and what isn\u2019t is increasingly challenging. Thankfully, this selection of resources is just a sliver of the many available to librarians and other information professionals to educate readers about media literacy. Sharing these resources, or others of high-quality, is a great first step to bringing this topic to your community, however it is just that: a first step. There are many additional ways to further learning and instruction within our institutions and to help people become critical thinkers. If you\u2019re interested in developing further ideas around this topic, the questions below can help guide you on that road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n