How to Spot Fake News

Consider the source: Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.
Check the author: Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
Check the date: Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events. Check your biases: consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement.
Read beyond: Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
Supporting sources: Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story. If it a joke? If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
Ask the experts: Ask a librarian, or consult a fact checking site.

Fact Checking Sites

Fact-checking websites can help you investigate claims to help you determine whether what you hear or read is true. These resources can help you determine the legitimacy of a claim, but even fact-checking websites should be examined critically.

FactCheck.org
A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center that checks the accuracy of political statements, news, and claims
PolitiFact
Run by the Tampa Bay Times (which is owned by journalism school the Poynter Institute), this site checks and ranks political claims
Snopes.com
This site, which has operated since 1995, fact-checks urban legends, rumors, and news
The Poynter Institute / Fact-Checking Resources
The Poynter Institute serves as the world’s leading resource for journalists to engage and inform the public in democratic societies.
Media Bias/Fact Check
Aims to call biased or deceptive news and media practices
Washington Post Fact Checker
Fact checks political and governmental topics
LinkedIn
This professional networking site can be used to check the qualifications and expertise of authors

Want to learn more?

Check out this LibGuide for more tips on how to check facts in news and other sources.