When You Are the News: A Personal Journey From Tragedy to Media Literacy
May 13, 2026 (Only) FREE Special Presentation by media literacy educator Michelle Ciulla Lipkin.
When Michelle lost her father in 1988 in the bombing of Pan Am 103, she had no idea that her personal tragedy would forever make her the subject of the news. In her talk, Michelle will explore how her personal experience developed her critical thinking skills, shaped how she understands media, and continues to drive her passion for media literacy education.
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM—11:00 AM
Location: JBFC Theater, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville, NY 10570
Grade Level: High School
Note: Buses must arrive at the JBFC Theater by 9:15 AM. The JBFC will cover the cost of up to TWO buses for under-resourced schools. Bus availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. All bus invoices must be sent to JBFC within 60 days after the event in order to be paid.
Special Guest Speaker: Michelle Ciulla Lipkin
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin is a globally recognized leader in media literacy education. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at Brooklyn College where she teaches Media Literacy and works as an independent contractor creating curricular materials, resources, and conducting workshops. She currently partners with the National Association for Media Literacy Education, Blueshift Education, ConnectED, and others on advancing media literacy education around the U.S. and beyond.
Michelle worked as Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education from September 2012 – March 2025, helping NAMLE grow to be the preeminent media literacy education association in the U.S. During her tenure, Michelle founded U.S. Media Literacy Week, the National Media Literacy Alliance, and raised over $5 million. Michelle was the recipient of the 2020 Global Media and Information Literacy Award given by UNESCO. Michelle holds her undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University. Michelle serves as the Board Chair for the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, Inc.
Photographs and video will be taken during this program by a JBFC staff member. By registering your students for this trip, you are consenting to the taking of photographs or video recordings of all students in attendance and authorize the use of all photos and video by the Jacob Burns Film Center. Photographs or video may be used indefinitely for internal or external purposes (i.e. social media, e-bulletins, and marketing materials). If students do not have permission to be photographed or recorded, teachers must alert the JBFC Education team in writing prior to the event.
