Sessions open to groups across Georgia; Zoom set for Oct. 15

ATLANTA  — The Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ Georgia) is opening its Georgia Knows Media education program to community organizations across the state, the chapter announced Sept. 18.

SPJ Georgia created Georgia Knows Media to help Georgians combat false and misleading information and build trust between journalists and the communities they cover.

“Our program’s goal is to give people tools to figure out ‘what’s real’ in today’s confusing media landscape, which is full of AI slop and false information,” said Joshua Wilson, the chapter’s vice president and media literacy chair.

The program is an interactive training led by journalists, journalism educators and certified community members. The volunteer facilitators, with the help of a toolkit and other resources, teach participants how to evaluate news sources, recognize misinformation and understand how local journalism works.

Attendees who complete the training, which lasts about an hour, receive a certificate and are equipped to lead their own Georgia Knows Media sessions for friends, family members and organizations, expanding the program’s reach well beyond each initial session.

The training is designed for a wide range of audiences, including student and youth organizations, Rotary and civic clubs, church and faith groups, and homeowners associations. Sessions are offered free of charge and can be scheduled for online or in-person formats, giving groups statewide flexible access regardless of location.

Because SPJ Georgia’s facilitators are volunteers, the chapter asks interested organizations to plan ahead. Groups can request a session by emailing spjgeorgia@gmail.com to discuss available dates.

Initiated by SPJ Georgia Past President Katja Ridderbusch, the community rollout of the Georgia Knows Media program was made possible through a grant from the SPJ Foundation. The chapter is seeking additional funding and sponsors to expand the program beyond its current phase.

“Additional funding would allow the program to train additional volunteer facilitators and reach more communities across Georgia,” Wilson said.

Organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring the program’s expansion can email the chapter at spjgeorgia@gmail.com.

To kick off the expansion effort, SPJ Georgia will hold an open Georgia Knows Media session on Zoom from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 15. The session will include time for questions and answers about the program and the materials presented. Those interested can email spjgeorgia@gmail.com to register and receive the Zoom link.

To learn more about the program, visit spjgeorgia.com/gkm.

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About SPJ Georgia

SPJ Georgia is the Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, founded in 2014. The chapter supports journalists across the state by connecting them with resources and each other. Members represent all mediums of the profession and commit to a shared Code of Ethics published by the national organization. Chapter members also work to empower communities through initiatives like the Georgia Knows Media education campaign.