Keep Informed Without Losing Your Mind: an online class all about navigating today's media
This class is a fundraiser for a faithful companion's cancer care.
My rescue dog Ginny, who has been with me for ten years, has been diagnosed with cancer. She’s doing well on chemo, but her vet bills are steep. There are so many people in the world right now with dire needs, so I don't want to do a typical crowdfunder. I want to offer donors something in return.
I have lost count of the number of friends who say that they can’t even look at the news anymore because it’s too stressful. They chronically activate and then deactivate their social media because it's overwhelming. They don’t know how to figure out what’s true anymore. But they feel bad because they know that part of being a good citizen is staying informed. I want to help!
So I’m putting my long career as a journalist and editor to work for you, with a new virtual class all about navigating today’s media without losing your mind. It’s happening on Monday, May 11, 2026 from 6-8pm ET. You can join online from anywhere with the event link once you register. The suggested price is $50, but you can choose your own price starting at $20. If you can't swing $20, that's ok. See below.
We’ll talk about how to figure out what’s genuine, how to use social media in a healthy way, and how to separate the pundits and influencers from actual news. We'll go over tips for spotting mis- and disinformation, how to understand current events without going nuts, and how to approach AI. There will be time for questions and discussion, and afterwards I’ll provide my own extensive list of the best media sources to calmly stay in the know without wading through slop or hitting expensive paywalls, and without having a meltdown.
About me: I’m a Philadelphia, PA-based freelance journalist, editor, and cultural critic. I have been writing professionally for 19 years, and I’ve been the editor-in-chief of an indie nonprofit Philly media outlet since 2018. My work has appeared in newspapers, websites, magazines, and Philly's NPR affiliate. I am passionate about the free press, media literacy, democracy, equality, and human rights, including LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights. I think everyone, regardless of their background or income, deserves access to good information that they can understand. I personally understand mental health struggles, and how difficult it is to keep emotionally stable in today’s world.
About Ginny: She is an 11-pound mutt (probably a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix) that I adopted in 2016. She is my day-and-night companion, there for me through everything: illness, heartbreak, grief, the pandemic, and all the world’s stresses. She was diagnosed with metastatic mast cell cancer last January after a few months of testing. Her prognosis is uncertain, but she has excellent vet care, and she is tolerating chemotherapy well. She has great quality of life for now, and I’ll keep it that way for as long as I can. She is a weird, happy, complicated little dog who loves her people fiercely.
Everyone who joins this May 11 class will be helping to support Ginny’s cancer care. To manage my vet debt and her ongoing care, I need to raise about $8000. If you’re not interested in taking a media literacy class but you want to donate to Ginny’s care, you can Venmo me (@Alaina-Johns) or find me on PayPal (Alaina Johns). Ginny is in my profile pics.
Media literacy should be accessible to everyone, so if you want to take this class but you can’t afford the minimum $20 ticket price, no problem. Email me at [email protected] and I’ll get you in free, no questions asked.
Thank you for considering my fundraiser! I’d love to see you in class. For updates on the class and Ginny’s care, you can follow me on Instagram: @dontyouwantarealjob. You can also help by sharing this event with anyone who might be interested.