News literacy | RMIT Information Integrity Hub

ABC Education Resources

Free media literacy resources for students (years 5–12), developed by Australia’s national broadcaster. The collection includes interactive modules for students, classroom materials and lesson plans for teachers, and explainers on topics such as news production and media bias. The site also features BTN High, a curriculum-linked news program for upper-primary and secondary students, and “Real, LOLZ, Oops or Fake”, an online game through which players evaluate news sources and assess the headlines, content and imagery of stories to develop their critical thinking skills.

Cat Park

An online game to build resilience against harmful information through exposure to common disinformation tactics. Set in a fictional town, it asks players (aged 15+) to spread disinformation about a proposed cat park using emotional headlines, manipulative imagery and polarising rhetoric. The game, created by Dutch media studio Tilt, takes 15–20 minutes to complete and is accompanied by a lesson plan and teacher toolkit.

Checkology

A “virtual classroom” in which students (years 5–12) learn to spot misinformation, recognise bias and question conspiratorial thinking. Lessons draw on real examples from social media and the news to engage students in critical analysis. Developed by The News Literacy Project, a US-based education nonprofit, the platform supports learners to become critical thinkers and informed and responsible digital citizens. Teacher registration is required.

Children and Media Prompt Cards

A card pack for starting conversations with students (years 1–6) about media and technology. Each card aligns with one of 6 key concepts of media literacy education: representations, institutions, audiences, languages, relationships and technologies. The cards were created by Southern Cross University education lecturer Dr Amanda Levido.

Common Sense Education

A US database packed with digital and media literacy lesson plans for teachers (years F–12), created by Common Sense Education and Harvard University education experts. Major collections include the Digital Citizenship Curriculum, the Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum and the Essential News & Media Literacy Skills collection. Together, these lessons cover digital footprints, healthy habits, relationships and cyberbullying, social media algorithms, AI, media balance and much more.

Digital Citizenship+ Resource Platform

An expansive database of classroom resources dedicated to building digital and information literacy among young people (years 5–12). Designed for educators by Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center, lesson plans cover everything from understanding information quality and the digital economy to protecting your privacy and reputation.

eSmart

An extensive program of lesson plans and online modules (years F–10) designed to keep children informed, responsible and safe online. Younger students can earn their “Digital Licence”, while older students can explore the Media Literacy Lab (requires teacher registration). Created by the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and endorsed by eSafety, these resources are aligned to the Australian curriculum and cover topics such as advertising, consent and AI images. Teachers can also complete professional development modules.

First Draft’s Training Resources (Archived)

First Draft was a nonprofit (2015–2022) dedicated to training journalists and combating misinformation and disinformation. Its resources offer practical advice to researchers on how to find, verify and publish content sourced from the social web. First Draft’s website is now hosted by the Internet Archive and may trigger a browser security warning.

MediaWise

MediaWise is an initiative of the Poynter Institute that provides learners of all ages with the tools and critical skills they need to identify misinformation via online modules, explainers, videos, fact checks and lesson plans for educators. Its program includes the Hit Pause Media Literacy Curriculum, which offers 11 ready-to-use lessons for secondary students, focusing on fact checking, critical evaluation of information and responsible sharing online. Poynter is the home of the International Fact-Checking Network, and MediaWise oversees the Teen Fact-Checking Network.

Misinformation Susceptibility Test

An online psychological test that assesses users’ ability to separate fact from fiction by asking them to classify a series of news headlines. Developed by the University of Cambridge, the test forms part of an Oxford-led study that aims to develop a universal framework for assessing misinformation susceptibility. Responses can remain anonymous.

MoAD’s Media Literacy Resources

A catalogue of media literacy resources for students (years F–12). Developed by the Museum of Australian Democracy, these resources include videos, explainers and classroom activities on topics such as digital citizenship, media production and bias, and the role of news in Australian democracy.

Newshounds

A nine-part, curriculum-aligned media literacy resource designed by the producers of the Squiz Kids news podcast. Aimed at primary school educators (years 3–6) and built like an online board game, it helps kids become “internet detectives” by teaching them how to question, analyse and verify online information. The resource includes a ready-to-teach lesson sequence, student workbook and comprehensive teacher manual, making it accessible for parents without prior media literacy expertise.

Other Side of the Story: News and Media Literacy Resources

A collection of explainers, lesson plans, games and quizzes designed by the UK’s BBC Teach to help secondary students (years 7–10) develop skills in media analysis and critical thinking. Covering topics such as misinformation and media influence, the resources explain how to critically evaluate sources, identify bias and make informed decisions. Some video content may be geo-blocked and unavailable in Australia.

The PM’s Daughter

A 10-part fictional drama series exploring the life of a teenager whose mum is the Australian prime minister. Created by the ABC in collaboration with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, the show is accompanied by teaching toolkits (years 5–10) that explore themes such as civic responsibility, media influence, friendship and activism, offering a springboard for class discussions on digital citizenship, leadership and personal values.

Triage Your Fact-Checking

A board game exercise designed by US public broadcaster NPR to help journalism students evaluate facts and consider how they are presented in news reports. Using a four-quadrant card printout with pre-prepared examples, the game develops skills in critical thinking, decision-making and media literacy by challenging learners to assess how information is attributed or omitted, offering hands-on experience in navigating real-world news verification.

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