Social media has reshaped how Americans consume news. As content creators—often called “influencers”—rise as primary sources of information, they are overtaking traditional journalists for younger audiences. This shifting landscape brings critical questions: What does this mean for journalism? What does this mean for news consumers? How can we navigate news literacy in a digital world? And what role do these voices play in shaping the media ecosystem?

Join High Country News and the Journalism and Public Interest Communication program at the University of Washington in an evening with content creators Birdie Sam (@showme_YourMask), Kelsey Russell (@Kelscruss), and Teal Lehto (@WesternWaterGirl). Together, we’ll explore how their work brings new voices and perspectives to journalism, their evolving relationships with traditional media, and what drives their passion for the work they do.

UW Teaching Professor Andrea Otáñez will facilitate the conversation

• Date: February 5, 2025, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
• Doors open at 5pm
• Location: University of Washington Seattle campus, Walker Ames Room, Kane Hall, located on the second floor of Kane Hall, in the northeast corner of the UW’s Central Plaza (“Red Square”)
• Free to attend
• Livestream link: https://youtube.com/live/oAKfJAxu2PA?feature=share (please note that the livestream is available even if the event is sold out)
• Light hors d'oeuvres served
• RSVPs for in-person attendees via Eventbrite are encouraged

Kelsey Russell is a media literacy influencer and co-host of First Stop News. She uses print media as the vehicle for promoting a natural sense of curiosity, improving media literacy, and better emotional regulation when interacting with news. This mantra comes to life on her TikTok page of almost 100k followers where she dynamically reads different newspapers and magazines to her audience. By promoting an approach to new information from a state of curiosity and nostalgia, she hopes to make generations fall back in love with learning.

Teal Lehto is a dedicated water rights activist focused on addressing water scarcity in the Colorado River Basin. Through her TikTok account she educates her over 60,000 followers on critical conservation issues, using her background in Environmental Studies and her love for rivers to inspire action on the West's pressing water challenges.

Panel Host: Teaching Professor Andrea Otáñez is an educator and journalist who has written, edited and developed digital and print packages on a variety of beats, including environment, science, politics, medicine, communities, religion and consumer affairs. As part of the University of Washington’s Communication Department, she teaches in the Journalism and Public Interest Communication program. She is a board member for High Country News.