Avoiding Bad, Misleading, or Fake News: Evaluating News Sources: Identifying Fake News, Misinformation, or Disinformation

• Check the source
  • Is it from a Google search or did you use an academic database?
  • Is it a .com, .org, .edu, or .gov?
• ​SIFT - Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace
• Check the claims in the article, Can you follow up with them using other reputable sources?
• Question everything. 
  • Does the site have ads?
  • Is the source from a think tank or a nonprofit that has a stake in the subject of the article? 
  • What is the author's background?
• Check any links that are in the article. Do they actually lead to information that verifies something in the article?

Why should you care about whether or not your news is real or fake?

1. You deserve the truth.  You are smart enough to make up your own mind - as long as you have the real facts in front of you.  You have every right to be insulted when you read fake news, because you are in essence being treated like an idiot.
2. Fake news destroys your credibility.  If your arguments are built on bad information, it will be much more difficult for people to believe you in the future.
3. Fake news can hurt you, and a lot of other people.  Purveyors of fake and misleading medical advice like Mercola.com and NaturalNews.com help perpetuate myths like HIV and AIDS aren't related, or that vaccines cause autism.  These sites are heavily visited and their lies are dangerous.
4. Real news can benefit you.  If you want to buy stock in a company, you want to read accurate articles about that company so you can invest wisely.  If you are planning on voting in an election, you want to read as much good information on a candidate so you can vote for the person who best represents your ideas and beliefs.  Fake news will not help you make money or make the world a better place, but real news can.

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