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Media Ready News Post

Helping Schools Meet HB 959: Media Literacy Programs for Elementary Through High School

2026-03-12T21:32:35+00:00

March 12, 2026, Durham, NC – As social media and digital platforms become a central part of young people’s lives, educators are tasked with helping students navigate online environments safely and responsibly. In response, North Carolina passed House Bill 959 (HB 959), which requires schools to provide instruction on social media literacy and responsible technology use. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, public schools must provide instruction on social media literacy at multiple grade levels, once in elementary school, once in middle school, and twice in high school. The law outlines several topics that instruction should address, including but not [...]

Helping Schools Meet HB 959: Media Literacy Programs for Elementary Through High School2026-03-12T21:32:35+00:00

Key Takeaways from the 2026 State of Tobacco Control Report

2026-03-12T21:36:44+00:00

March 12, 2026, Durham, NC - Last month, the American Lung Association released its 2026 State of Tobacco Control report, which provides an annual assessment of tobacco control efforts across the United States. The report evaluates federal and state policies aimed at reducing tobacco use and assigns “grades” based on progress in key areas such as prevention programs, tobacco taxes, and smoke-free laws. This year’s report highlights both progress and concerning developments in the nation’s tobacco control landscape. How Has the Tobacco Control Landscape Changed? Several major changes to federal tobacco control programs occurred in 2025, which may have long-term [...]

Key Takeaways from the 2026 State of Tobacco Control Report2026-03-12T21:36:44+00:00

Latest Edition of Media Ready Spanish Incorporates New Substance Misuse Prevention Content

2023-07-19T17:30:07+00:00

March 16, 2023, Durham, NC – The fourth and newest edition of iRT’s evidence-based, instructor-led media literacy and substance misuse prevention program for middle school students, Media Ready Spanish, has been released. Media Ready Spanish provides youth with skills to critically analyze media content that contains harmful messages about alcohol, drugs, tobacco products, and vapes. The Spanish version of the program continues to use Latin American Spanish in the translations to provide teachers with the opportunity to present all instructional materials to their students in their native language. Through Media Ready’s series of 10 fully scripted, highly interactive lessons, students practice [...]

Latest Edition of Media Ready Spanish Incorporates New Substance Misuse Prevention Content2023-07-19T17:30:07+00:00

iRT Scientist Contributes to Chapter on Media Literacy and Smoking in the International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy

2023-07-19T18:04:27+00:00

For more than a decade, scientists at iRT have conducted groundbreaking research on the impact of media literacy education for substance abuse prevention. Recently, Dr. Janis Kupersmidt, an expert on this topic, co-authored a chapter entitled “Media Literacy and Smoking” in the newly-published International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy. The encyclopedia – which is available...

iRT Scientist Contributes to Chapter on Media Literacy and Smoking in the International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy2023-07-19T18:04:27+00:00

iRT Represents Prevention Central Suite At National Anti-Drug Forum

2023-01-11T21:22:13+00:00

Representing a suite of prevention products hosted on the Prevention Central website (www.PreventionCentral.net), researchers from innovation Research & Training (iRT) attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) National Leadership Forum in National Harbor, MD, from February 4th to 7th, 2019. Representing a suite of prevention products hosted on the Prevention Central...

iRT Represents Prevention Central Suite At National Anti-Drug Forum2023-01-11T21:22:13+00:00

iRT Scientists to Present Research Findings, Prevention Programs at National Prevention Conference

2020-12-29T18:10:01+00:00

Durham, NC (September 12, 2014)—Scientists from innovation Research & Training (iRT) will be among researchers and practitioners presenting at the upcoming National Prevention Network annual research conference September 15-18 in Hartford, CT. Durham, NC (September 12, 2014)—Scientists from innovation Research & Training (IRT) will be among researchers and practitioners presenting at the...

iRT Scientists to Present Research Findings, Prevention Programs at National Prevention Conference2020-12-29T18:10:01+00:00

iRT President Presents at the Sapienza University of Rome

2020-12-29T16:35:04+00:00

Dr. Janis Kupersmidt, president of innovation Research & Training (iRT), presented to the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Psychology at the Sapienza University of Rome on Thursday, April 3, 2014. Her presentation titled, “Media Literacy Education for Substance Abuse Prevention: Results of Three Efficacy Trials,” included an overview of using school-based media literacy...

iRT President Presents at the Sapienza University of Rome2020-12-29T16:35:04+00:00
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