2017 Law Promotes Media Literacy for students in WA Schools

On Thursday, April 20, our bill became a law! Governor Jay Inslee signed it with AME representatives Barbara Johnson, Nick Pernisco and Marilyn Cohen present. The law will go into effect on July 23.

This bill, ESSB 5449, is a follow up to SSB 6273.  That bill made us the first state in the country to pass media literacy legislation, making Washington the model state. Read more about our success passing SSB 6273 here.

Now media literacy legislation has moved still another step forward in Washington with the passage of a second bill ESSB 5449 in 2017.

In speaking with the group, Governor Inslee noted how this bill was addressing an important subject.

Multiple news articles have come out to coverage the passing of this bill:

View images from the bill signing below.

Capitol dome
Capitol dome
Pictured: Barbara Johnson, Action for Media Education and Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW
Pictured left to right: Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher-Librarian, Olympia School District, Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors’ Association and Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association.
Pictured left to right: Evan Smith, Legislative Assistant, Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant and Sen. Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood.
Pictured left to right: Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors’ Association, Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association, Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher-Librarian, Olympia School District, Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nick Pernisco, Action for Media Education, Evan Smith, Legislative Assistant, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW, Senator Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood and Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant.
Pictured left to right: Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW, Evan Smith, Legislative Assistant, Sen. Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood, Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association, Governor Jay Inslee, Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher Librarian, Olympia School District, Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nick Pernisco, Action for Media Education, Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors’ Association and Barbara Johnson, Action for Media Education.
Gov. Inslee gives the bill signing pen to Sen. Marko Liias, the primary sponsor of the bill. Pictured left to right: Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW, Evan Smith, Legislative Assistant, Sen. Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood, Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association, Gov. Jay Inslee and Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher-Librarian, Olympia School District.
Marilyn Cohen shaking hands with Gov. Jay Inslee. Pictured left to right: Curt Kohlwes, Executive Legislative Assistant, Sen. Marko Liias 21st District-Lynnwood, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW, Carolyn Logue, Washington State Library Association and Gov. Jay Inslee.
Nick Pernisco gives Gov. Jay Inslee a copy of Nick’s book Practical Media Literacy. Pictured left to right: Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sharyn Merrigan, Teacher-Librarian, Olympia School District, Gov. Jay Inslee, Jessica Vavrus, Washington State School Directors’ Association and Nick Pernisco, Action for Media Education.
Pictured left to right: Gov. Jay Inslee, Dennis Small, Educational Technology Director, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Marilyn Cohen, NW Center for Media Literacy, College of Education, UW and Barbara Johnson, Action for Media Education.