The New York State Bar Association is bringing together leaders from education, the law, the judiciary, politics, and the media to explore the critical role of media literacy in protecting democratic values.

“Misinformation and digital manipulation can shape public opinion,” said Kathleen Sweet, president of the New York State Bar Association. “The convocation will highlight practical strategies to foster critical thinking and informed decision-making about media content.”

New York State’s Chief Judge Rowan Wilson will kick off the event, which will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Bar Center in Albany.  The program is free and will be available virtually.

Constitutional scholar and former U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, partner in charge at Jones Day in Washington, will be the featured speaker. Christopher Riano, of counsel at Holland & Knight, a lecturer on constitutional law at Columbia University, will lead the discussion.

Judge Joseph F. Bianco, Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Court, and Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, will address the convocation virtually.

Commissioner of the New York State Department of Education Betty Rosa, and New York State Senator Shelley Mayer, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, will discuss media literacy for students. Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, will join them on a panel moderated by Susan Arbetter, anchor of Capital Tonight on Spectrum News.

Professor Howard Schneider, executive director of the SUNY Stony Brook’s Center for News Literacy, will moderate another panel that will include students and tackle how media literacy is defined. The last panel of the day will focus on strategies, and will be moderated by Jay Worona, a partner at Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran in Garden City and former deputy executive director and general counsel for the New York State School Boards Association.

The convocation, Media Literacy Education: Safeguarding Democracy in a Digital World, will also be available to stream into classrooms. Registration is required.