SERVICE / MEDIA

Service / Media

Popular Press & Practitioner Publications

Spikes, M.A. (2025). Tackling News Deserts and a Polluted Information Ecosystem by Reclaiming Trust in Journalism with News Media Literacy. Chapter in Overcoming Information Chaos. In Press. Upriver Press.

Spikes, M. A. (2024, September 24). Don’t share that! An expert on how to protect yourself from racist disinformation campaigns. The Emancipator. http://theemancipator.org/2024/09/24/topics/technology/dont-share-that-an-expert-on-how-to-protect-yourself-from-racist-disinformation-campaigns/


Spikes, M. A. (2024, September 10). Support “scholastic journalism” to boost civic engagement, media literacy in youth. Chicago Sun-Times. https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2024/09/10/civic-engagement-media-literacy-youth-schools-scholastic-journalism-michael-spikes-northwestern


Spikes, M. A. (2024). Social-media influence on teen mental health goes beyond just cause and effect. Nature, 629(8013), 757–757. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01488-5 .


American Library Association. (2024, Mar 22). Architecture of the Internet Programming Guide - Media Literacy for Adults. https://programminglibrarian.org/programming-guides .


McNeill, Erin. (2024). US Media Literacy Policy Report 2023 (contributor). Media Literacy Now. https://medialiteracynow.org/document/u-s-media-literacy-policy-report-2023/ .


Spikes, M.A. (2022). An Introductory Lesson Plan in News Media Literacy for YA Librarians. In POWER LINES: Connecting with Teens in Urban Communities Through Media Literacy (pp. 168–174). ALA Editions.


Friesem, Y. and Spikes, M.A. (2021). The What and Why of Media Literacy: A Framework. Illinois Media Literacy Coalition. https://ilmlc.org/declaration/ .


American Library Association. (2020). Media Literacy in the Library: A guide for library practitioners. https://bit.ly/3SPxyTv .


American Library Association. (2020). Media Literacy Education in Libraries for Adult Audiences. American Library Association. https://bit.ly/2YXo8rV .


Spikes, Michael A. “News Literacy: Evaluating Evidence in News Stories to Find the Truth.” BillMoyers.com, Public Square Media, Inc., 30 Mar. 2017, billmoyers.com/story/evaluating-evidence-refuting-trumps-wiretapping-claims/.


Spikes, Michael A. “Making Sense of the News: The Power of Information ” BillMoyers.com, Public Square Media, Inc., 3 Mar. 2017, billmoyers.com/story/making-sense-news-power-information/.


Spikes, Michael A. “Making Sense of the News: Distinguishing News from Sponsored Content” BillMoyers.com, Public Square Media, Inc., 22 Feb. 2017, billmoyers.com/story/making-sense-news-distinguishing-news-sponsored-content/.


Spikes, Michael A. “Making Sense of the News: First we have to determine what “the news” actually is.” salon.com. 6 Feb. 2017, https://www.salon.com/2017/02/06/making-sense-of-the-news-first-we-have-to-determine-what-the-news-actually-is_partner/


Spikes, Michael A. "Learn about Crucial News Literacy Online." BillMoyers.com, Public Square Media, Inc., 6 Jan. 2017, https://billmoyers.com/story/check-free-online-news-literacy-course/

Media Appearances

Calzada, Lu (2025, March 12). Generative AI in journalism: Avoiding fake, harmful content and using tools to improve news consumption. Windy City Times. https://windycitytimes.com/2025/03/12/generative-ai-in-journalism-avoiding-fake-harmful-content-and-using-tools-to-improve-news-consumption/


Steinberg, Isiah (2025, February 12). Medill introduces AP Seminar module on long road to AP Journalism class. The Daily Northwestern. https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/02/12/campus/medill-introduces-ap-seminar-module-on-long-road-to-ap-journalism-class/


Guthmann, Meha A.A. (2025, January 9). Meta ends fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram. WBEZ Reset. WBEZ Chicago (Broadcast). https://www.wbez.org/reset-with-sasha-ann-simons/2025/01/09/meta-ends-fact-checking-on-facebook-and-instagram.


Saldierna, Julian & Dent, Lisa (2025, January 8). Dr. Michael Spikes: 'More people are putting more trust in Facebook for their information'. WGN Radio 720 (Broadcast). https://wgnradio.com/lisa-dent/dr-michael-spikes-more-people-are-putting-more-trust-in-facebook-for-their-information/.

A man and a woman are on a news channel talking about misinformation

Cortopassi, Ray (2025, January 7). Meta Moderation. WGN-TV (Broadcast). Link


"A World Under the Influence". Why It Matters. Council on Foreign Relations. Podcast. (2024, October 21). https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-under-influence


Mis/Dis* - Exploring Misinformation and Disinformation Part 1. iHeartMedia - KFI-AM 640 Los Angeles. Podcast. (202, October 22). https://www.iheart.com/podcast/53-mis-dis-229477918/

"Unpacking misinformation and disinformation tactics surrounding disaster relief efforts". Total Information AM. KMOX Radio. (2024, October 8). https://www.audacy.com/podcast/total-information-am-2922c/episodes/unpacking-misinformation-and-disinformation-tactics-surrounding-disaster-relief-efforts-1bc3e


Clark, Leah. "Influencers get a seat at the DNC convention". The Monitor. NABJ Student Multimedia Project. (2024, August 2). https://nabjmonitor.com/2024/influencers-get-a-seat-at-the-nabj-convention/


Cross, Austin. "How false rumors ignited a weekend of violence for the UK". AirTalk with Larry Mantle. LAist 89.3 FM, Southern California Public Radio. (2024, August 6). https://laist.com/shows/airtalk/who-is-minnesota-gov-tim-walz-and-what-does-he-bring-to-the-harris-campaign#how-false-rumors-ignited-violence-in-uk


Protic, Marko. "Teorije zavere posle atentata na Trampa: Mračna stvarnost Amerike" ["Conspiracy Theories After the Trump Assassination: The Dark Reality of America"]. Glas Amerike [Voice of America - Serbia]. (2024,  July 18). https://www.glasamerike.net/a/amerika-izbori-tramp-bajden-atentat-teorije-zavere/7701757.html


Pinho, Faith E. "After Trump is shot, conspiracy theories flood the internet, creating dangerous 'spiral'". Los Angeles Times. (2024, July 15). https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-07-15/trump-shooting-conspiracy-theories-internet


Heine, Christopher. "Marketers' Relationship with Social Media? It's Complicated". ANA Magazine, Association of National Advertisers. (2024, Apr 26). https://www.ana.net/magazines/show/id/ana-2024-04-social-media-turmoil


Ritvo, Hannah. "Young audiences are turning to TikTok influencers for their news. What are the downsides?". University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics. (2024, Apr 11). https://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2024/04/11/young-audiences-are-turning-to-tiktok-influencers-for-their-news-what-are-the-downsides/


Hallett, Tom. "Getting savvy about media literacy". Taylor and Francis Group Insights. (2024, Mar 19). https://insights.taylorandfrancis.com/social-justice/media-literacy#


Boryga, Andrew. "Quality Media Literacy Requires More than Toothless Laws, Educators Say". Edutopia. (2024, Feb 29) https://www.edutopia.org/article/quality-media-literacy-requires-more-than-toothless-laws-educators-say


Terrible, Theresa and Shen, C. (Host). (2024, Jan 19). How war influences media and media influences war. Where We Live - Connecticut Public Radio. https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2024-01-19/how-war-influences-media-and-media-influences-war

Public Speaking Engagements

Justice 20/20 Narrative Subcommittee Meeting (Panelist) (Virtual) | Feb, 2024

Illinois Justice Project - Chicago, IL


Media Literacy Education for Adult Audiences: Exploring ChatGPT and Conversational AI (Virtual) - (video)|  December, 2024

American Library Association - Chicago, IL


Reporting & Publishing Beyond Your Campus |  November, 2024

National Scholastic Press Association / JEA Fall Conference - Philadelphia, PA


Integrating AP Seminar: Journalism, Media & Democracy into High School Classrooms |  November, 2024

National Scholastic Press Association / JEA Fall Conference - Philadelphia, PA


Introduction to Narrative Podcasting |  November, 2024

National Scholastic Press Association / JEA Fall Conference - Philadelphia, PA


Supporting Youth Journalism and Media Literacy |  October, 2024

Northern Illinois News Association Awards Keynote - Dekalb, IL


Understanding Media & Civic Engagement Panel |  October, 2024

North Shore Civic Club - Lake Forest, IL


"The Threat of Misinformation and Disinformation" | September 2024

League of Women Voters of Oak Park-River Forest Fall Kickoff Program - Oak Park, IL


News Media Literacy 101 for Students  | September 2024

Regina Dominican School - Wilmette, IL


IJEA All-State Banquet Keynote | June 2024

Illinois Journalism Education Association - Springfield, IL


Making Sense of Media & News Online  |   May 2024

League of Women Voters of Wheaton - Wheaton, IL


Communication Leaders of Chicago Panel Discussion    May 2024

Communication Leaders of Chicago - Chicago, IL


"Is the Press Failing Us?" Panel Discussion  | March 2024

Blue Tuesday Happy Hour; Indivisible Chicago - Chicago, IL


Media Literacy Interventions in Various Contexts (Virtual)  | February 2024

Global MediaEd Institute; Media Education Lab - Kingston, RI


Using Media Literacy for Institutional Change (Virtual)  | October 2023

Driving Change Learning Institute - Howard Hughes Medical Institute,  Chevy Chase, MD


Media Literacy 101 for US History Courses | July 2023

National World War II Museum Collection to Classroom Training,  New Orleans, LA


Media Literacy Introduction (Virtual)  | July 2023

Indivisible Illinois Truth Brigade, Evanston, IL


Impact of Disinformation on Democracy: Examining Media Literacy & Education (Virtual Panelist) &

Navigating the Messy Media Ecosystem (Virtual) | April 2023

BEST Fulbright Media Literacy Program 2023, Amerikazentrum Hamburg & U.S. Embassy, Berlin 


Closing Keynote - Making Sense of Media: A Framework for Media Literacy & Introductions to News Media Literacy | April 2023

21st Annual Information Literacy Summit DePaul University & College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL (Video)


Distinguishing Journalism in Crowded Media Ecosystems (Virtual) | April 2023 

American Corners - Kazakhstan,  US Department of State In association with American Library Association & East Kazakhstan Regional Library


Making Sense of News with News Media Literacy | March 2023 

McLean County League of Women Voters, Normal, IL


Fact, Fiction, or Opinion?: How to Become a Well Informed Voter and Citizen | March 2023

Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook, IL


An Introduction to the Media Literacy Framework (Keynote) | February 2023
Northbrook Public School District 30, Northbrook, IL


Keynote Speaker | November 2022

National Louis University Reading Leadership Institute, Wheeling, IL


Keynote Panel - Civic Learning and Media Literacy Across the Disciplines | September 2022

Illinois Democracy Schools Network Annual Convening, Lisle, IL


Media Literacy and Critical Thinking (Virtual)| June 2023

Indivisible Illinois Truth Brigade, Evanston, IL (video)


"To Your Health!" (Panelist) - Experts on Fact & Fiction in a Pandemic   March 2022

LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, Baton Rouge, LA (video 1, video 2)


“Using News Literacy to Make Sense of the Current Media Landscape” (Virtual) | 2021

Minitex @ University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN


"Media Landscape and Economics” Media Literacy for Adults Webinar Series | 2020

American Library Association, Chicago, IL


Media Literacy @ Your Library Pre-conference Clinic | 2019

American Library Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.


Making Sense of Actionable Information though the lens of news media literacy| 2019

Keynote Address - Rhode Island Association of Libraries Annual Conference, Providence, RI


“Making Sense of the News: Teaching News Literacy in an Era of Misinformation” | 2018

The Academy for Human Rights Summer Teacher Conference, Buffalo, NY


“Stopping Fake News in its Tracks by Building your Student's News & Information Literacy

Skills Today and Everyday” | 2018

Illinois Council for the Social Studies Fall Conference, Palatine, IL

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