Finding Reliable News Sources: Real News, Fake News and Media Bias

In an article in the Columbia Journalism Review, Michael Shudson discusses some of the characteristics of high-quality, reliable news sources.  Some important characteristics include:

• Providing accurate details-- names, addresses, dates, etc. 
• Maintaining a calm and informative tone
• Identifying the sources for their information
• Drawing on established, reliable sources for facts and data 
• Presenting multiple positions or viewpoints within a story when appropriate  (not always necessary for articles grounded in facts)
• Readily retracting, correcting, and apologizing for incorrect information

If a news source follows these practices, that can help establish its reliability.

Along with finding reliable news sources for your information, it's important to be able to recognize fake news and misinformation when you come across them.  This infographic offers some tips for doing so: 

Source:  The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA):  https://repository.ifla.org/handle/123456789/167

Although a source is not automatically reliable because it's been found through a library, the library can be a great place to find reliable news sources.  Here are some resources at Meredith's library that can provide reliable news and current information.

A good way to evaluate news and information that you encounter is to use the "SIFT" method. Before engaging with, or passing on, a piece of news, information, or media, try to:

Stop:  
Take a moment, and give yourself the chance to ask questions about the source.

Investigate the source: 
What do you know about this information source?  What reason do you have to think that it is trustworthy?   What can you learn about the person or organization who produced it?

Find better coverage:
Look for other sources about this information or topic.  How do they compare? Is there consensus, or are there significant disagreements?

Trace things back to their original context:
Where did this information (or quote, claim, or media) originally come from?  Is there context in its original source that could help you understand it better?

There is no such thing as entirely unbiased news, but it's important to be able to identify, understand and address possible biases in the news sources you encounter.  Here are some resources to help in doing so: