Understanding the news is a challenging task, especially with the rise of the Internet, cable news and the 24 hr news cycle, along with constant changes in media trends and technologies. It is important to use critical thinking in evaluating the quality and reliability of news. This page provides access to resources that will help you evaluate news and aid in understanding news literacy.
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Five criteria used in evaluating Websites can also be appled to evaluating the news. These criteria are...
Authority - Who is the author or organization behind the news piece? If sources are cited, what makes them credible?
Accuracy - Are sources for factual information clearly cited? Is the information free of errors that would indicate a lack of quality control or produce inaccuracies in the information?
Objectivity - Is there bias? Is the news piece written for an intended audience or for a specific purpose (inform, sway, sell, spoof, entertain)? Does advertising playing a role?
Currency - Date published? Is the information out-dated?
Coverage - Does it address all sides of a story or has something significant been left out? Is the information well supported and cited?
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