Distinguishing fact from fiction in the media
Many sources compete for attention online and in our social media feeds, including partisan blogs and bogus sites posting as legitimate news organizations. It can be tough to know what to trust. Follow these five steps from the News Literacy Project to cut through the noise and learn how to evaluate sources for signs of credibility — as well as red flags that signal a source should be avoided.
1. Do a quick search
Conducting a simple search for information about a news source is a key first step in evaluating its credibility. It’s important to look beyond social media. Go to a search engine and plug in the name of the website or publication. Do other legitimate resources, such as standards-based news organizations or fact-checking websites describe this publication as unreliable? Satirical? Is it a state-run propaganda “news” site? If so, there’s no need to spend more time vetting. Look elsewhere for reliable information.
Tip: Wikipedia can be a good place to start and lead you to relevant source links. Just keep in mind that some credible local newsrooms may not have an entry there. You can also see if a source has been vetted for inclusion on news aggregators, such as Google News, Apple News and SmartNews.
2. Look for standards
Reputable news organizations aspire to ethical guidelines and standards, including fairness, accuracy and independence. These standards should be available publicly — often in the form of editorial policies or a code of ethics. Look for evidence that a source follows such standards. If someone is mentioned in a critical story, for instance, did the journalist give that person a chance to comment?
Note: Some professional journalism standards are commonly shared across the industry, such as the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Other policies are unique to different newsrooms.
3. Check for transparency
Quality news sources should be transparent, not only about their reporting practices (see step 2), but also about their ownership and funding. Is it clear who owns and runs this website or publication? Is advertising labeled responsibly? Can you tell who is writing and producing content? Is there a way to contact newsroom editors and reporters?
Remember: “About” pages can provide some of these details, but they can also be misleading and omit important information (about a source’s ownership or lack of independence, for example). Don’t be fooled by a sleek web design or trust the “About” page on an unfamiliar site without further verification. If something seems suspicious, check it out.
4. Examine how errors are handled
Credible news sources are accountable for mistakes and correct them. Do you see evidence that this source corrects or clarifies errors?
5. Assess news coverage
An important step in vetting sources is taking time to read and assess several news articles. Do you see original reporting? Do they provide straight news reports or just commentary and opinion? Are there grammatical and/or spelling errors? How do news articles from this source compare to coverage from other standards-based newsrooms on this same topic? Many people have strong opinions about news sources without evaluating them firsthand.
Tip: Take note of the bylines (names) on news coverage. These bylines can help you confirm that this coverage was written or produced by professional journalists. Bylines are also a sign of transparency and accountability.
Beware of these trust busters
If you spot any of these problems, look elsewhere for credible news.
- False or untrue content – Publishing a demonstrably false claim without correcting it.
- Clickbait tactics – “Baiting” you with sensationalized language, including misleading or exaggerated headlines or headlines that are purposely vague to drive clicks.
- Lack of balance – Consistently focusing on one angle or side of a legitimate debate or controversy, while ignoring or distorting other perspectives.
- Manipulated images or videos – Misrepresenting or altering visuals or generating them using AI. You can do a reverse image search using Google, TinEye or Yandex (among other tools).
- State-run or state-sponsored propaganda – Using government-controlled news organizations to further national agendas and improve public image.
- Dangerous, offensive and malicious content – Could include discriminatory language, unverified pseudoscience, content that promotes violence or coverage that, as the SPJ Code of Ethics states, “panders to lurid curiosity.”
This guide was created by the News Literacy Project in partnership with SmartNews.
UW battles misinformation and disinformation
The University of Washington has world-renowned experts and resources to combat misinformation and disinformation. Much of this knowledge is consolidated in the UW Center for an Informed Public. To learn more, check out:
Calling Bullsh*t – this celebrated book and course, created by UW Professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West of the UW Center for an Informed Public, offers a wealth of useful advice, tools and resources to combat misinformation and disinformation.
MisinfoDay – the Center for an Informed Public’s annual media literacy educational event brings together high school students, teachers and librarians to learn how to navigate complex information environments and make informed decisions about what to believe online. The site offers an informative resource library.
Confronting Fake News and Misinformation – the UW has aggregated resources to help students develop critical thinking skills that are the cornerstone of informed and responsible civic engagement.
Beyond the UW, here is a list of many other organizations fighting fake news.
Support
You can support the UW Center for an Informed Public. Or, please consider making a one-time gift or setting up a monthly payroll deduction through the UWCFD to support one of our member organizations working to fight misinformation and dedicated to fair, truthful and accurate news reporting:
Internews Network – trains journalists, tackles disinformation and helps media outlets become financially sustainable so that everyone has trustworthy information to make informed decisions and hold power to account (Charity Code: 1479810).
States Newsroom – The nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, with reporting from every capital (Charity Code: 2006548).
National Public Radio – an independent, nonprofit media organization that cultivates an informed public, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures (Charity Code: 0519253).
KUOW Public Radio – an independent, nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism, innovative podcasts, engaging community events, and more (Charity Code: 0315756).
Cascade PBS – a community-licensed and supported public television station and media organization with a mission of inspiring a smarter world through high-quality, accurate, local, relevant media—on air, online and in-person (Charity Code: 0315693).
Northwest Public Broadcasting – a regional radio network dedicated to enriching Northwest communities by sharing and creating distinctive programs which engage, enlighten and entertain (Charity Code: 0330094).