ONE SHOW. TWO MEN. NO RULES..

Propaganda, misinformation and fake news have the potential to polarise public opinion, to promote violent extremism and hate speech and, ultimately, to undermine democracies and reduce trust in the democratic processes.

Teachers must be well-trained in the subject to empower students with the necessary competences to critically understand and assess information reported by all forms of media.

Projects in partnership with national and local authorities and media organisations are encouraged.

Two thirds of EU citizens report coming across fake news at least once a week.[1]

Over 80% of EU citizens say they see fake news both as an issue for their country and for democracy in general.[2]

Half of EU citizens aged 15-30 say they need critical thinking and information skills to help them combat fake news and extremism in society.[3]

The terms ‘propaganda’, ‘misinformation’ and ‘fake news’ often overlap in meaning. They are used to refer to a range of ways in which sharing information causes harm, intentionally or unintentionally – usually in relation to the promotion of a particular moral or political cause or point of view.

It is possible to separate out three clearly different uses of information which fall into this category:

Although none of these phenomena are new, they have taken on new significance recently with the widespread availability of sophisticated forms of information and communication technology. The sharing of text, images, videos, or links online, for example, allows information to go viral within hours.

Since information and communication technology is so central to their lives nowadays, young people are particularly vulnerable to propaganda, misinformation and fake news. Young people spend a significant amount of their time watching television, playing online games, chatting, blogging, listening to music, posting photos of themselves and searching for other people with whom to communicate online. They rely heavily on information circulated online for their knowledge of the world and how they perceive reality. Many parents do not have sufficient technical competence to keep up with their children’s online activity, or educate them about the risks they might be facing. Schools, therefore, have a duty to provide young people with the critical and information skills which they cannot access at home.

“The significant rise of fake news as propaganda in recent years makes it critical that students have the skills they need to identify truth and discern bias.”[5]

The ability to respond critically to online propaganda, misinformation and fake news is more than a safe-guarding tool, however, it is also an important democratic competence in its own right. Analytical and critical thinking, and knowledge and critical understanding of the world, including the role of language and communication lie at the heart of the Council of Europe Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture. They are central to Digital Citizenship Education and Media and Information Literacy.[6]

“School is the one place where it is absolutely crucial to train future citizens to understand, to criticise and to create information. It is in schools that the digital citizen must begin and maintain constant critical thinking in order to attain meaningful participation in his or her community.”[7]

The ability to handle off-line as well as online propaganda, misinformation and fake news is also a key skill in a number of other school subjects, e.g., History, Social Studies, Science, Religious Studies and Art. Young people may study the use of nationalistic and patriotic slogans, or so-called ‘atrocity propaganda’ in WW1 in History, for example; or art forms designed to support particular ideologies in Art lessons.

Another area in which information and communication technology is becoming an issue for schools is through adverse comments made about teachers and schools on social media. Schools are finding that parents and others increasingly turn to social media when they have a dispute or disagreement with their school, e.g., over school rules, school policies, or staff behaviour. How to handle online critical or defamatory comments or campaigns of this sort has become a matter of concern for leaders and managers in some schools.[8]

There are a number of challenges facing schools wishing to take propaganda, misinformation and fake news seriously as an educational or social issue:

“States should take measures to promote media and digital literacy, including by covering these topics as part of the regular school curriculum and by engaging with civil society and other stakeholders to raise awareness about these issues.”

THE JERSEY SOUND

Original member of the iconic Rock n Roll Hall of Fame group, and native New Jersey singer Johnny Petillo joins us to discuss the impact of the "Jersey Sound" on popular and contemporary music. 

Season’s change, and here in the Garden State, we experience that to a great extent with colorful sunsets that drop down behind tall trees whose falling leaves are just as colorful.

What hasn’t changed, though, season after season or year after year, is the colorful music scene that has shaped both the state, and the industry, for decades. Something global warming can’t take away from us is this: The Jersey Sound. Even as we fluctuate from spring-like temperatures to frost-covered mornings to the point of whiplash, we can find the beauty in this state with ease. It’s everywhere, filling the five major senses no matter where you go. You can see swirling sunsets of orange and pink, feel leaves crunching underfoot, taste a rouge snowflake on a chilly day like today, smell the industrial cities (for better or for worse), and hear The Jersey Sound. This state may just be the most sense-heavy place in the nation, and we are not going to complain. (Although, NJ is known for that – some complaints, some choice words, some high octane moments, some energy, and some attitude. The attitude of New Jerseyan artists and New Jerseyans in general is a through-line in the film at hand.)

The Jersey Sound: The Musicians Who Call New Jersey Home, the aptly named documentary that came out this year and premiered this past June in the cultural hub of Asbury Park, explores such. “This was a tough four years, but it was a labor of love, and to see the reaction that I, myself, and my team received on that day in Asbury Park was very gratifying,” the producer told us in a conversation a couple months of ago. “And since then, there have been some good articles written. I’ve gotten some nice responses from people. I’m very pleased to say the least.”

THE JERSEY SOUND

What hasn’t changed, though, season after season or year after year, is the colorful music scene that has shaped both the state, and the industry, for decades. Something global warming can’t take away from us is this: The Jersey Sound. Even as we fluctuate from spring-like temperatures to frost-covered mornings to the point of whiplash, we can find the beauty in this state with ease. It’s everywhere, filling the five major senses no matter where you go. You can see swirling sunsets of orange and pink, feel leaves crunching underfoot, taste a rouge snowflake on a chilly day like today, smell the industrial cities (for better or for worse), and hear The Jersey Sound. This state may just be the most sense-heavy place in the nation, and we are not going to complain. (Although, NJ is known for that – some complaints, some choice words, some high octane moments, some energy, and some attitude. The attitude of New Jerseyan artists and New Jerseyans in general is a through-line in the film at hand.)

The Jersey Sound: The Musicians Who Call New Jersey Home, the aptly named documentary that came out this year and premiered this past June in the cultural hub of Asbury Park, explores such. “This was a tough four years, but it was a labor of love, and to see the reaction that I, myself, and my team received on that day in Asbury Park was very gratifying,” the producer told us in a conversation a couple months of ago. “And since then, there have been some good articles written. I’ve gotten some nice responses from people. I’m very pleased to say the least.”

Season’s change, and here in the Garden State, we experience that to a great extent with colorful sunsets that drop down behind tall trees whose falling leaves are just as colorful.

What hasn’t changed, though, season after season or year after year, is the colorful music scene that has shaped both the state, and the industry, for decades. Something global warming can’t take away from us is this: The Jersey Sound. Even as we fluctuate from spring-like temperatures to frost-covered mornings to the point of whiplash, we can find the beauty in this state with ease. It’s everywhere, filling the five major senses no matter where you go. You can see swirling sunsets of orange and pink, feel leaves crunching underfoot, taste a rouge snowflake on a chilly day like today, smell the industrial cities (for better or for worse), and hear The Jersey Sound. This state may just be the most sense-heavy place in the nation, and we are not going to complain. (Although, NJ is known for that – some complaints, some choice words, some high octane moments, some energy, and some attitude. The attitude of New Jerseyan artists and New Jerseyans in general is a through-line in the film at hand.)

The Jersey Sound: The Musicians Who Call New Jersey Home, the aptly named documentary that came out this year and premiered this past June in the cultural hub of Asbury Park, explores such. “This was a tough four years, but it was a labor of love, and to see the reaction that I, myself, and my team received on that day in Asbury Park was very gratifying,” the producer told us in a conversation a couple months of ago. “And since then, there have been some good articles written. I’ve gotten some nice responses from people. I’m very pleased to say the least.”

Music's Biggest Stars Came from New Jersey

New Jersey has long had a reputation for putting out some of the most impressive lounge singers known in the world and holds its claim to fame with Frank Sinatra.  Originally a Jersey boy out of Hoboken, Sinatra went on to become one of the most well-known members of the Rat Pack.  Jersey hasn’t stopped producing legends, however, and Johnny Petillo is a proud member of the ranks of Doo Wop and Rat Pack shows to come out of New Jersey in the years that followed.  If you enjoy the tonal qualities of doo-wop favorites mixed with a splash of comedy, Johnny Petillo should be on your list.

Johnny has a long-standing passion for music, standing on the street corners of Asbury Park belting out his soulful tones to captivated audiences.  When he first got his start he may have only been locally famous, but as his notoriety grew he eventually found his way onto the European charts with his hit record “Kiss Me Quick.”  He would soon get to go to Europe and tour the countries there, as well as the United States, with the band Danny and the Juniors.  World fame was essentially guaranteed for this talented boy from Jersey.

The years to follow would show Johnny refining his craft even further, and he served for some time as lead singer with The Duprees.  It was on the back of his voice that the group went on to have such incredible singles as “Have you heard” and “You Belong To Me”, two songs that would make them famous.  Like most of his contemporaries, Johnny Petillo was a rolling stone, and his career wouldn’t stand still.

Due to the quality of his performances, Johnny Petillo was afforded one of the biggest honors an artist of his time could receive, he was invited to appear on The Tonight Show, as well as Late Night with David Letterman.  An invitation to the White House didn’t hold the same prestige as sharing a few minutes in the limelight with these late night talk-show celebrities.

Johnny’s successful career hasn’t led him to forget the days where he was still reaching out to his audience in small venues and comedy clubs.  He still tours these locations to this very day and can be seen performing in locations that range from smokey lounge bars to Madison Square Garden.

His suite of talents is broad, allowing him to advertise himself as “Johnny Petillo’s Doo Wop & Rat Pack One Man Show”, and those who recruit his services are in for an absolute delight.  Johnny’s talent includes a soulful voice that he uses to perform original pieces, as well as doing impressions of some of the most talented Rat Pack members from history.  What’s a night of good music with a few laughs?  A great night out, which is why Johnny brings his talents as a comedian to the table to brighten up an evening of powerful, nostalgic music.