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Getting Better Foundation presents Trust Me, a feature-length documentary exploring how media technology is influencing society and what we can do about it.

Winner of the 2021 UNESCO Award for Media Literacy in North America

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(To purchase Trust Me on DVD, write to: info@gettingbetterfoundation.org)

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    Reviews

    To improve the world we need to have confidence that improvement is possible. Today’s information diet tends to work against these goals, and it’s essential that we understand how people learn about current affairs and how we can enhance their knowledge about the present and hope for the future. Trust Me is a vivid, engaging, and penetrating portrait of these vital issues.

    Steven PinkerHarvard University, Author “Enlightenment Now”

    This film is designed to increase student’s media literacy to help them cope with the volumes of negativity they are bombarded with since the advent of mobile devices, enabling them to become more resilient. Documentaries like Trust Me may help Montana’s population develop tools to combat mental health issues like suicide ideology.

    Jon TesterU.S. Senator

    Manipulation of the news by media sources can lead to an increase in depression, anxiety and an increase in the polarization of society. Trust Me and the Getting Better Foundation are working to remedy this through this film.

    Steve DainesU.S. Senator

    TRUST ME addresses how media technology is changing society and how we can protect future generations and ourselves.

    James P. SteyerFounder & CEO of Common Sense Media

    This film offers a sensitive, lyrical, and courageous look at emotional dimensions of our attachment to digital devices.

    Renee HobbsDirector - Harrington Center at Univ. of Rhode Island

    Trust Me opens up the vital conversation about the importance of understanding the media landscape which surrounds us. As someone who works every day to create a media literate world, I am grateful for this film and its message about the importance of reflecting on the way media shapes the world we live in. It’s an incredibly important film at an incredibly important time. You will want to see this. Trust me.

    Michelle Ciulla-LipkinExecutive Director – National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE)

    I loved it – and can’t imagine anything that could be more topical or timely.

    Patrice NorthExecutive Director – Alexandria Film Festival

    We live in troubling times. We are at a point where we need to learn to talk to each other… to engage each other in critical discourse. This film goes a long way to solving the How of what we say, How it affects others and in building critical thinking.

    Belinha DeAbreu, PhD.Media Literacy Educator & Author

    Whom should you trust in the media? Trust Me addresses this important issue. I’m proud to have been a part of this artful and powerful film that not only addresses the problem but, more importantly, offers solutions.

    Michael ShermerPublisher - Skeptic magazine, Author “Giving the Devil His Due"

    Trust Me is an informative, well-paced documentary that has been designed to create awareness, urging people to pay more attention to the information they get on the internet.

    Video Librarian

    “We must prepare young people for living in a world of powerful images, words and sounds.”

    UNESCO, 1982

    About The Documentary

    Trust Me is a feature-length documentary exploring human nature, information technology, and the need for media literacy to help people trust one another, bring them together and create a more resilient population.

    Trust Me is a documentary film that shows how an avalanche of negative news and mis-information is making us all terrified of the world. This has led to mistrust of others, which further leads to racism, polarization, mental health disorders and even crime.

    Sensational media take advantage of our survival instincts to earn more clicks and ad revenue with scary and shocking headlines – many of which aren’t even true – and we’re enabling them each time we share. When our fear goes up, our trust comes down. When people don’t trust each other, they don’t help each other and progress stalls. We become farther apart.

    Trust Me covers emotional stories, interwoven with science and expert interviews to show us where the world really stands and the right way to consume and share media.

    Russian Trolls/ISIS

    Meddling from foreign governments polarizes communities

    New Zealand

    Misinformation about vaccines leads to a near-death experience

    Chicago, USA

    Over-protective parenting robs children of healthy experiences

    Durango, USA

    Screentime vs. mental health in middle school

    India

    Lynching resulting from encrypted WhatsApp

    Meet The Experts

    Jad Melki

    Associate Professor of Journalism & Media, Lebanese American University
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    Matt Ridley

    United Kingdom House of Lords and Author
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    Steven Pinker

    Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Harvard University. Author, “Enlightenment Now”
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    Jimmeka Anderson

    Founder & Executive Director – I AM not the MEdia, Inc.
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    Sam Wineburg

    Professor of Education, Stanford University
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    Michelle Ciulla Lipkin

    Executive Director – National Association for Media Literacy Education
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    Sherri Hope Culver

    Associate Professor, Temple University. Director – Center for Media and Information Literacy
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    Jeffrey Gettleman

    Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist
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    Filmmakers

    Roko Belic

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    Joe Phelps

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    Caree Davis

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    Michael Fallavollita

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    Rosemary Smith

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    Additional Crew

    Omid Heidari

    Field Producer

    Sarah Villareal

    Archival Producer

    Tammy Chu Tolle

    Archival Producer

    Julianne Grossman

    Narrator

    Alex Palmer

    Post Prod Supv & 1st Asst Ed

    Valarie Barsky

    Clearance Supervisor

    Matt Clarke

    Cinematographer

    Alison Lee

    Production Manager

    Kyle Morrison

    Assistant Editor

    Brit Williams

    Archival Producer

    Ryan Taubert

    Original Music

    Relja Penezic

    Motion Graphics

    Music

    Filmed and recorded during COVID-19, parents from all over the United States coached and filmed their kids singing our original musical score from Trust Me. Score written by Michael R. Martin.

    Musicians

    Michael R. Martin

    Songwriter
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    Debbi Blackwell-Cook

    Vocals
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    Scott Wilkie

    Piano and Production
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    Jeff Olson

    Drums
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    Nathan Brown

    Bass
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    Rob Rinderer

    Organist
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    Megan Hook

    Voice Teacher
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    Ryan Taubert

    Composer
    READ BIO

    Petition to Get Media Literacy into Schools

    To be delivered to the United States Department of Education, Governors of the 50 United States, the U.S. Congress and Senate:

    “We, the People, call upon Government, Journalists and Educators to help us rid the airwaves, internet and news outlets of mis– and dis-information from irresponsible media sources. The first step is to prepare the citizenry to evaluate the validity of messages and sources by supporting media literacy and testing for K-12 education, university and journalistic curriculums.

    The high state of fear generated by media coverage which is unbalanced (biased toward the bad news) and sometimes erroneous, drives up unnecessary fear in our country, which, in turn drives down trust. When we trust one another, we’re more apt to help each another. Fear can also lead to feelings of helplessness which damages mental health. By closing the perception gap between the actual and the perceived state of the world, we believe depression, anxiety, illegal drug use and suicidal ideology will decline. We believe progress in solving the big problems of the day will move forward at a higher rate.”

    Rationale for the Petition

    The facts prove this is be the best time ever to be alive, but most don’t realize it. A petition asking for the U.S. States to adopt media literacy curriculum in K-12 schools would show our resolve and remind our representatives of the critical importance of this issue.
    SIGN PETITION