Truth in the News
The Center for News Literacy makes the case for being smart consumers of online news. "The most profound communications revolution since the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press seems to make it harder, not easier, to determine the truth. The digital revolution is characterized by a flood of information and misinformation that news consumers can access from anywhere at any time... This superabundance of information has made it imperative that citizens learn to judge the reliability of news reports and other sources of information that is passed along their social networks."
Strategies
Check the facts
There are many fact-checking websites available online. Before using one of these websites, remember, a good fact checking service will use neutral wording and will provide unbiased, authoritative sources to support their claims. Look for the criteria below when searching for the facts.
Evaluate sources
- Does the website have an "About Us" section? Does it disclose a source of funding?
Knowing this information enables you to judge the website's purpose and viewpoint.
- Citations and evidence
- Is information cited so that you can track down the source and verify it?
- What evidence is used to prove the author's point? Is the evidence reliable, and is it used logically?
- For more tips, see the sections above.
Beware of:
- Websites that contain the suffix "lo" (e.g., Newslo) or that end in ".com.co".
These often present false information for satirical or other purposes.
- Websites that urge you to dox an individual or organization
- Websites that have amateurish design, use ALL CAPS, and try to play on your emotions
Those are often signs that information is not trustworthy and that you should research it further via other sources
- Memes making the rounds on Facebook or other social media sites
Try googling the topic of a meme or other doubtful story: if it is a legitimate news story, you'll probably find it covered by an established source like a major newspaper or TV news channel
- Clickbait
Sensationalist headlines and odd photos whose purpose is not to publish legitimate news but to increase traffic at a website
Burst your filter bubble
Web browsers and social media sites employ algorithms that feed you information you've shown a preference for. This so called "filter bubble" connects us to news that tends to reinforce our set views, rather than challenging us with new ideas. When conducting research for class or simply making up your mind on an issue, try these strategies:
- Seek credible information from both sides of an issue: conservative and liberal; religious and atheist; industrialized and developing nations; etc.
- Use databases that aren't influenced by your previous web searches, for example:
- Talk to people who hold views different from yours. That solution is offered by Eli Pariser, who wrote a book and did a Ted talk on filter bubbles.
(Thanks to the following excellent guides on which we've drawn for part of the above content: Bristol Community College, Stark State Digital Library, and University of Maryland Global Campus).
