Be aware that newspapers and other news sources publish both news stories and opinion pieces.
News stories by these widely read and well-established newspapers are generally regarded as reputable. Compare coverage of a story in different papers to gain a better perspective.
Many news sites restrict how much you can access without a subscription. If you run into a paywall and cannot access the full text of an article:
Visit the library's News Sources guide to learn more.
Ask yourself, "Why am I seeing this now?" Did you seek it out? Did someone you know and trust share it? Be skeptical of sponsored and promoted content that may show up in social media feeds and search results.
Consider the headline or main message. Does it make you angry or afraid, or does it seem too good to be true? If so, look for other sources to make sure you aren't being provoked by misleading information.
Real stories and images from the past can become misinformation when they are recirculated in the present, especially as memes. Make sure you know their real context.
Can you identify the author or publisher? Search their names to learn more about them and their reputations. This strategy can help you recognize satirical stories, as well as those created to reinforce a biased worldview. Be skeptical of stories and images that are shared without attribution.
Does it back up claims with data, quotes from experts, or links to credible sources? Does it contain obvious errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation? Be skeptical of news that seems rushed and carelessly produced.
Check other news sources that you trust to see if they have published similar stories. This verification technique is called lateral reading. If many reputable news outlets have verified and shared the information, you can trust that the information is credible.
Look up the story on some of the fact-checking websites listed on the Skills and Strategies page. If more than one fact-checking site has investigated the story and found it to be true, partly true, or totally false, you can trust their judgment.