Are you interested in boosting your media literacy skills?

If so, the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center, which is housed at The University of Southern Mississippi and funded by the Scripps Howard Foundation, can help.

The center, which opened Jan. 6, is hosting media literacy trainings throughout its southeast Mississippi service area, and the public is invited to attend the Tuesday, April 15 session.

The “Ask Me What Is True?” training will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. in Cook Library 206Z on the university’s Hattiesburg campus and is free to attend. Seats are limited, though, and interested participants are asked to register by April 14.

 “We’re excited about offering this innovative training, which teaches participants how to critically evaluate news and other information that comes across their social media feeds or is picked up from a family member or friend,” Joshua Wilson, the center’s community liaison, said. “The training culminates in a certification for each participant, and that person can then lead trainings of their own.”

The overall goal, he added, is to build a network of ambassadors who teach media literacy to groups in their respective communities.

Groups interested in hosting a media literacy training can contact Wilson, who can modify the length of the training based on a group’s specific needs. He can be reached at 601-266-4265 or by email at [email protected].

“Media literacy is a core component of our center,” Wilson said. “As part of that, we also operate a free ‘What Is True?’ service, which is a way for the public to verify information — for example, something they saw on Facebook or heard from Cousin Fred.”

Members of the public can submit information to the “What Is True?” service by calling 601-266-TRUE (8783), by emailing [email protected] or by visiting the center’s website. The information will then be investigated by center researchers, who will return messages within two business days.

Along with its media literacy functions, the center also releases original reporting about issues affecting communities and people in the southeast portion of the state. The center employs seven full-time media professionals and around 20 students from area high schools, community colleges and Southern Miss.

News packages are released weekly on the center’s website and can be republished by local media outlets at no cost.