University Library: News and Newspapers: Evaluating news sources

Evaluating news sources

Evaluating information is an important part of academic research as it enables the critiquing and reflecting of selected sources of information. If using newspapers then evaluating the information is essential. This involves the application of quality criteria (bias, authority, publication date) to sources, in order to assess information to be included.

The Credo Research Skills modules linked below provide tutorials, videos, and quizzes on evaluating information.

The following definitions of misleading and outright fake news have been adapted from the tags used at OpenSources, a database of information sources assessed for credibility.

Fake News

Sources that entirely fabricate information, disseminate deceptive content, or grossly distort actual news reports

Satire

Sources that use humor, irony, exaggeration, ridicule, and false information to comment on current events.

Extreme Bias

Sources that come from a particular point of view and may rely on propaganda, decontextualized information, and opinions distorted as facts.

Conspiracy Theory

Sources that are well-known promoters of kooky conspiracy theories.

Rumor Mill

Sources that traffic in rumors, gossip, innuendo, and unverified claims.

Junk Science

Sources that promote pseudoscience, metaphysics, naturalistic fallacies, and other scientifically dubious claims.

Hate News

Sources that actively promote racism, misogyny, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination.

Clickbait

Sources that provide generally credible content, but use exaggerated, misleading, or questionable headlines, social media descriptions, and/or images.

How to Spot Fake News

See these tips from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Licensed under Creative Commons

Consider the source

Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission, and its contact info.

Read beyond

Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?

Check the author

Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?

Supporting sources?

Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story.

Check the date

Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events.

Is it a joke?

If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.

Check your biases

Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement.

Ask the experts

Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site.

Download the IFLA poster on Spotting fake news (PDF 425.5 kB)

The resources below will help you critically evaluate the news you use and share.

FactCheck.org
This site's goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
FlackCheck.org
This site provides resources designed to help viewers recognize flaws in arguments in general and political ads in particular. This is the political literacy companion site to the award-winning FactCheck.org by the University of Pennsylvania.
Hoaxy
This tool by Indiana University visualizes the spread of claims and related fact checking online.
International Fact Checking Network - Code of Principles
A code of principles for organisations seeking to present nonpartisan reports.
Politifact
PolitiFact is a Pulitzer Prize winning fact-checking website
Snopes
Snopes is the oldest and largest fact-checking site on the Internet
The Washington Post Fact Checker
The purpose of this website is to “truth squad” the statements of political figures regarding issues of great importance, be they national, international or local.

News and Newspapers

Evaluating news sources

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