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