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House committee advances media-literacy interim study focusing on student skills and civic health
Summary
Representative Peter Strand's resolution to study media literacy in schools passed the committee after testimony from librarians and advocates who said teaching students how to evaluate digital information is linked to youth mental health and civic resilience.
Representative Peter Strand opened House Joint Resolution 59 to request an interim study on media literacy through education. Strand cited a 2019 Stanford study he said showed many teenagers were unlikely to seek source information and argued that schools must teach students to evaluate online material and recognize misleading content.
Proponents included Danny Hess of the Montana Library Association, who described librarians' long experience in media-literacy instruction and urged participation in a study; Kaly Wicks, who described researching media literacy and links to body-image and eating disorders; and Rosemary Smith of the Getting Better Foundation, who said media literacy training could reduce mental-health harms, increase critical thinking and strengthen civic health.
The committee moved HJ 59 do pass in executive action by voice vote with proxies recorded; the resolution will be forwarded to the House floor. Sponsors and proponents framed the study as nonpartisan and instructional rather than prescriptive curriculum mandates.
The resolution asks an interim committee to inventory current media-literacy efforts and consider how to ensure equitable access to media-literacy instruction and training for teachers and librarians statewide.
