The Informed Citizen series continues this week at the Great Falls Public Library, supported by a grant from Humanities Montana, in partnership with Enbar.

The three-part series is focused on the local news landscape and the state of the news industry.

Tonight, at the Great Falls Public Library, the series will have a panel with local news media leaders, including The Electric, Great Falls Tribune and KFBB, who will share how they report the news.

Last week, Courtney Cowgill will lead an interactive conversation about local news and local food, what they have to teach us about trust and connection, why they matter and how they contribute to community vibrancy.

“If you think about it, there are two big things we consume on a daily basis: food, of course, and information,” Cowgill said. “Today, we have more choices for both than we have ever had. And, the choices we make really can make a difference. So, what if we were as informed and judicious about our information diet as we are about our actual diet? What if it were as easy to spot junk news as it is to spot junk food? What if everything we read, watch or listen to came with a “newstrition” label? How would your news diet change?”

Cowgill is the director of media and engagement, adjunct professor and editor of the University of Montana’s Legislative News Service. Cowfill also farms with her husband, Jacob, at Prairie Heritage Farm on the Fairfield Bench and they specialize in fresh produce, ancient and heritage grains and farm-to-loaf sourdough breads baked in their on-farm bakery, Blue Truck Bread.

The three-part series began last week with Dennis Swibold’s presentation “What Happened to the News?”

Swibold is a professor and director at the University of Montana’s School of Journalism where he has taught for 27 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arizona in 1979 and a master’s in journalism from UM in 1991.