Democracy in Focus: Exploring Media Literacy with the Carter Center

Join the Georgia Tech Library Wednesday, April 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Scholars Event Network Theater, located on the first floor of Price Gilbert, for an enlightening lecture featuring speakers from the renowned Carter Center.

The Carter Center’s Sarah Morris, Dan Richardson, and Olivia Leu will provide insight into the Center's mission, projects, and the crucial role of media literacy in today's society. Additionally, the presenters will share insights into broader democracy programs, internship opportunities, and avenues for student engagement.

This event is tailored for both graduate and undergraduate students eager to understand and contribute to the intersection of democracy and media literacy. 

Discover how you can take the first steps toward involvement in this vital work. From recommended classes to extracurricular activities, our speakers will guide you on the path to making a difference. Moreover, get a sneak peek at the upcoming media literacy instruction slated for fall 2024, complete with a certificate of completion.

Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, explore opportunities for engagement, and pave the way for a future where media literacy is paramount. Join us and be part of the movement shaping the intersection of democracy and media in our world. 

Speakers:

Dan Richardson is the program associate for the Digital Threats to Democracy initiative inside the Democracy Program. He started as an intern with the Democracy Program in spring 2019 and then became a temporary program assistant, supporting projects in Guyana and Liberia. He then supported both the Tunisia and Guyana election observation missions. In 2020, Richardson joined the digital threats team, where he supported various projects countering digital threats to elections and democracy, including combating misinformation through social media monitoring and analysis, and supporting the development of the Carter Center’s media literacy program. Richardson holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from Miami University.

Olivia Leu joined The Carter Center in 2024 as the data analyst for the Digital Threats to Democracy initiative within the Democracy Program, where she supports the Center's efforts to identify and combat misinformation through social media monitoring and analysis. She previously interned at The Carter Center in summer 2023 and supported the Sierra Leone election observation mission during that time. She has prior experience working on political campaigns, U.S. and international public policy, and computational biology. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and politics from Pomona College.

Sarah Morris is a librarian, educator, and curriculum designer whose research and work focuses on critical information, digital, and media literacy, AI literacy, misinformation, civic engagement, student success, and library and information science education. Sarah has been a librarian for ten years and received her MS in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She held positions at Loyola University Chicago and the University of Texas and served as the Head of Instruction and Engagement at the Emory University Libraries. In addition to her work in libraries, Sarah has worked on curriculum projects for organizations that include the Mozilla Foundation, ALA, Sage Publishing, and NSF. Sarah is currently working on media literacy education projects with the Carter Center and as an educational consultant.