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Fake News: Home

 

5 Ways to Spot Fake News:

  1. Look for unusual URLs.
    • If they end in .lo or .com.co, chances are they are not legitimate news sites.
  2. Dissect the layout.
    • Look for grammatical errors, incorrect dates, bold claims with no sources, and sensationalist images.
  3. Dig deeper.
    • Find out who wrote the article and who supports the site.
    • If this information doesn't exist or you have to register to get it, question why that's so.
  4. Cross-check.
    • Use fact-checking sites to confirm information.
    • See if other credible news sites are reporting similar news.
  5. Try a reverse image search.
    • If the same picture appears in unrelated stories, you may have a reason to be suspicious.

Fact Checking Links

The ABC Test

Use the ABC test to help you determine the credibility of a website.

Authority:

The source of the information

Who is the author, publisher, source, or sponsor?
What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
MOST IMPORTANT: Lateral Reading

  • What do other scholars, professionals, instructors, etc. have to say about the author of the website?
  • Search the web to see what other reputable websites have to say about the person, company, organization, etc.
  • This is called lateral searching and it is the best way to determine the credibility of a website.
     

Bias:

The purpose and point of view of the information

What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, to teach, to sell, to entertain?
Do the authors or sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?

Currency:

The timeliness of the information

When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Does your topic require current information, or will older sources work?
Are the links functional?