📰 How to Evaluate News

Why Evaluate News?

In today’s information landscape, not all sources are equally reliable. Learning to evaluate news helps you distinguish quality journalism from misinformation, propaganda, and sensationalism.

• Not all sources have the same editorial standards
• Financial incentives can influence what gets reported
• Bias exists across the political spectrum
• Fact-checking skills are essential for informed citizenship

Evaluating the Source

Check the Publisher

• Is this from an established news organization or a website you’ve never heard of?
• Does the outlet have editorial standards and a corrections policy?
• Who owns the organization? Are there financial interests at stake?
• Does the outlet clearly distinguish between news and opinion?

Consider the Author

• Is the piece bylined with a real author’s name?
• Does the author have expertise or credentials in the topic?
• Can you find other articles by this author to check their track record?
• Is the author affiliated with an organization that has a stake in the story?

Check the Website Quality

• Is the URL similar to a real news site but slightly different? (e.g., “nytimes.com.fake”)
• Are there obvious spelling or grammar errors?
• Does the site look professionally maintained?
• Are ads appropriate, or is the site filled with clickbait?

Examine the Content

Look for Original Sources

• Are claims backed up by named sources or documents?
• Does the article link to primary sources?
• Are quotes attributed to actual people with their titles?
• Are statistics sourced to credible organizations?

Evaluate the Reporting

• Are multiple perspectives included, not just one side of the story?
• Does the article acknowledge complexity or present a false binary?
• Is important context missing that would change the meaning?
• Does the headline accurately reflect the story?

Check for Emotional Manipulation

• Does the article use sensational language or EXCESSIVE CAPS?
• Is the headline designed to provoke anger or fear rather than inform?
• Are adjectives like “shocking,” “outrageous,” or “disgusting” used excessively?
• Would a more neutral version of the headline change your reaction?

Verify the Facts

Cross-Reference Multiple Sources

• Is this story reported by other major news organizations?
• Do they report the same facts, or are there contradictions?
• If only one outlet is reporting it, why might that be?
• Check both sources that you trust and those you’re skeptical of

Use Fact-Checkers

• Organizations like FactCheck.org and PolitiFact verify specific claims
• Snopes investigates viral stories and urban legends
• Google Fact Check Explorer aggregates fact-checks across outlets
• Fact-checkers show their work and sources

Check Publication Date

• Old news presented as current can be misleading
• Has the story been updated? Check update timestamps
• Is the headline referring to an old event without context?
• News that “went viral” might be years old

Red Flags for Unreliable Reporting

• No author attribution or anonymous sources without explanation
• Sensational headlines that don’t match the story content
• Heavy emotional language instead of factual reporting
• No sources or citations for specific claims
• Refusing to issue corrections when errors are pointed out
• Conspiracy thinking that connects unrelated events
• One-sided coverage with no opposing viewpoints
• Fake quotes or misquoting people out of context

Signs of Quality Journalism

• Clear distinction between news stories and opinion pieces
• Named sources with credibility (anonymous sources used sparingly and justified)
• Corrections issued transparently when errors occur
• Multiple perspectives fairly represented
• Original investigation and reporting
• Context provided for complex issues
• Conflicts of interest disclosed
• Attribution and citations throughout

Building a Diverse News Diet

• Read from sources across the political spectrum
• Don’t rely on social media as your primary news source
• Follow individual journalists with strong reputations
• Support quality journalism through subscriptions when possible
• Seek local news for issues that affect your community
• Use news aggregators that show multiple perspectives
• Check breaking news against established sources before sharing