It is important to use critical thinking in evaluating the quality and reliability of information/news found online.
Criteria for evaluating the quality of websites:
Authority – Who is responsible for the content of the page? What are the individual or organization’s goals and purpose? Is there contact info? What’s the domain?
Accuracy – Are the sources for any factual information clearly cited? Is the information free of errors that would indicate a lack of quality control or produce inaccuracies in the information? Can you verify it?
Objectivity – Is there bias? Who’s the intended audience? Is advertising playing a role?
Currency – Date published or last revised? Out-dated info? Out-dated links?
Coverage – Does it address intended topics or has something significant been left out?
Resources that will help you find and evaluate news and be a better news consumer including:
Fake Or Real? How To Self-Check The News And Get The Facts
QUESTIONS FOR EVALUATING NEWS from the American Press Institute
1. Type: What kind of content is this?
2. Source: Who and what are the sources cited and why should I believe them?
3. Evidence: What is the evidence and how was it verified?
4. Interpretation: Is the main point of the piece proven by the evidence?
5. Completeness: What's missing?
Whether looking for news or statistics, or just ways to search the internet more efficiently try these tips
Do your own fact checking using Google! Also try these resources...
Search the full print editions of numerous national newspapers.
Locate any news magazine in our databases (such as Time, Newsweek, etc.) by searching for a magazine title in the library's periodicals directory and then linking to that magazine:
Visit these various news stories about California's "Yes Means Yes" law. Use criteria and tools on this page and "vote" for the article with least bias.