Project Censored aims to highlight underreported stories and promote media literacy – Central Florida News – Intersection

Mickey Huff (l) and Andy Lee Roth. Photo: Matthew Peddie / WMFE

Each year Project Censored publishes a book of 25 stories that the group believes should get more media attention.

Project Censored was founded at Sonoma State University in 1976 to promote censorship in the news media and help students develop media literacy.

The group has a weekly radio broadcast and continues to work with students to research underreported stories.

This week’s edition of Orlando Weekly features 10 of Project Censored’s top 25 stories this year, including reports of prescription drug costs, allegations that Pfizer is harassing South American governments over its COVID-19 deals, and a wave of wildcat strikes for Workers rights.

Project Censored Director Mickey Huff and Deputy Director Andy Lee Roth join Intersection to discuss the group’s work.

Huff says number one is the impact of rising prescription drug prices on the elderly.

“The role of the media is to let the public know what is happening and it is really important that people understand the challenges we are facing in our medical system. This is just one of the reasons that prescription costs will become a leading cause of death for the elderly due to the lack of availability and the inability to buy and buy these drugs, ”says Huff.

He says the need for media literacy is just as important today as it was when Project Censored was founded.

“We all have to slow down a bit to get our information and not consume it like so much junk food, right? And we have to think about where we get our information from. We have important questions to ask, why does this platform want me to know? What information is left out? “

Roth says students play an important role in helping vet stories to get into the annual top 25 list, while also learning valuable media literacy.

“You will be more engaged citizens and less likely to be the person we are all afraid of who just, you know, uses their social media accounts to promote all kinds of disinformation and misinformation. So, as I said, working with the students is a reason for great optimism. And I think one of the things that drive the project. “