Service / Media
Popular Press & Practitioner Publications
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.” 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.” 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
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/.
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
2023 - 2022 Media Appearances
Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Dec 12). A conversation with Michael Spikes (Season 4, No. 6) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests/michael-spikes
Stephen, Mike. "Media Literacy in Illinois". Outside the Loop - WGN Radio, 28 October 2023. https://outsidetheloopradio.com/2023/10/30/otl-889-media-literacy-in-illinois-whpk-fm-tries-to-stay-afloat-the-secret-history-of-mitty-collier/
Biron, Carey L. “US schools teach 'media literacy' to fight online disinformation”. Context - Thompson Reuters, 06 June 2023. https://www.context.news/big-tech/us-schools-teach-media-literacy-to-fight-online-disinformation
Liptrot, Michael. “Longtime cable news anchors Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon ousted on same day”. WBEZ Chicago, 25 April 2023. https://www.wbez.org/stories/longtime-cable-news-anchors-tucker-carlson-don-lemon-ousted-on-same-day/8c0eb245-9bc9-4542-b43f-b07a48d43c15
Theil, Michele. "TikTok is seeking to ban climate misinformation on the app. Will it work?". Big Issue, 21 April 2023. https://t.co/0TlTP66qmE
Lichty, Emily. "Illinois advocates, students ask for better media literacy education as new law takes effect". Daily Northwestern, January 31, 2023, https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/01/31/lateststories/illinois-advocates-students-ask-for-better-media-literacy-education-as-new-law-takes-effect/
Strong, Amber. "Media literacy helps students think critically about the news". Scripps News, January 25, 2023, https://scrippsnews.com/stories/media-literacy-helps-students-think-critically-about-news/
Moore, Matthew. "Arkansas Bill Plans to Ban TikTok on Government-Issued Devices". KUAF 91.3FM, December 21, 2022, https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2022-12-21/arkansas-bill-plans-to-ban-tiktok-on-government-issued-devices
Salman, Javeria. "One State is Poised to Teach Media Literacy Starting in Kindergarten". The Hechinger Report, December 10, 2022, https://hechingerreport.org/one-state-is-poised-to-teach-media-literacy-starting-in-kindergarten/
Holmes, Marie. "Study Says Many Teens Can’t Tell The Difference Between Real And Fake News". Huffington Post, September 12, 2022, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-help-your-kids-spot-fake-news_l_631b4196e4b046aa02344b5d
Eisendrath, Edwin. "The Big Picture with guest host Marj Halperin". Chicago, IL: WCPT 820AM, June 19, 2022, https://bit.ly/39H0id3
Williams, Amanda. "In Case You Missed It: Media Literacy 101". 1A. Washington, DC: WAMU & NPR, March 28, 2022, https://the1a.org/segments/in-case-you-missed-it-media-literacy-101/
Warren, J. (n.d.). Jim Warren: How Illinois is leading the charge for schools to impart media literacy to students. Chicagotribune.Com. Retrieved March 1, 2022, http://ow.ly/28gk50I6SbL
Allen, Natalie. "The Fight Against Misinformation". Evening Debrief. Atlanta, GA: Newsy, January 28, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LTYXLielIg
Pre-2022 Media Appearances
Hardwick, Reginald. "How Can You Tell if the News You Read is Real?" Illinois Public Media - WILL 90.9 FM, October 28, 2021, https://will.illinois.edu/21stshow/story/how-can-you-tell-if-the-news-you-read-is-real
Moreno, Nereida. “New Bill Would Require Illinois Schools To Teach Media Literacy”. WBEZ Chicago, 24 May 2021, https://www.wbez.org/stories/new-bill-would-require-illinois-schools-to-teach-media-literacy/1bf8a3ca-e4e9-4f0b-8685-1373f53299a8
Bertrand, Steven. “Illinois moving closer to mandating ‘Media Literacy’ in schools”. WGN Radio 720, 20 May 2021, https://wgnradio.com/chicagos-afternoon-news/illinois-moving-closer-to-mandating-media-literacy-in-schools/
Kennedy, Kristy P. “Media Literacy: An Antidote For Misinformation”. NPR Illinois 91.9 UIS, 22 Feb 2021, https://www.nprillinois.org/post/media-literacy-antidote-misinformation#stream/0
Glavinskas, Vanessa. “School for Skeptics”. The Rotarian,
rotary.org/en/literacy-can-mean-distinguishing-between-fact-and-fiction
Reynolds, Colleen. “Illinois Teachers Get Lesson In News Literacy.” WGLT, wglt.org/post/illinois-teachers-get-lesson-news-literacy#stream/0.
Rojas, Carmen. “Media Literacy Training for Teachers Goes a Long Way (Video).” Education Week - On Air: A Video Blog, 21 June 2017, blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on-air-video-blog/2017/06/media_literacy_training_for_teachers_video.html.
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