How do you know if a source is trustworthy?
You read something online: "Scientists discover chocolate cures cancer!" Should you believe it? WHO said it? WHEN? WHERE was it published? Not all sources are equal - and learning to evaluate them is crucial in our information-overloaded world!
WHO: Author credentials? Expert in this field?
WHAT: Type of source? News, opinion, satire, ad?
WHEN: Recent or outdated?
WHERE: Published where? Reputable outlet?
WHY: Purpose? Inform, persuade, sell, entertain?
TRUSTWORTHY sources typically:
• Cite their sources (footnotes, links, references)
• Have named, qualified authors
• Separate news from opinion clearly
• Correct errors transparently
• Use measured language (not sensational)
• Published by established organizations
BE SKEPTICAL when you see:
• No author listed (or author has no credentials)
• Sensational headlines ("SHOCKING!", "You won't believe...")
• No dates or citations
• Many ads or sponsored content
• URL designed to LOOK like reputable site (ABCnews.com.co)
• Only one source making this claim
DON'T just read the article! LATERAL READING = leave the site and search for: (1) Who is the author? (2) What do other sources say about this claim? (3) What's the original source? Fact-checkers do this constantly!
Evaluating sources means checking WHO said it, WHERE, WHEN, and WHY before believing!
The CRAAP Test:
• Currency: Is it up-to-date?
• Relevance: Does it answer your question?
• Authority: Who's the author? Qualified?
• Accuracy: Can you verify it? Sources cited?
• Purpose: Inform, persuade, sell, or entertain?
Quick checks:
1. About page: Who runs this site?
2. Contact info: Can you reach them?
3. Other coverage: Do reliable sources report this?
4. Original source: Is this secondhand? Find the original!
5. Reverse image search: For photos - are they real/recent?
Hierarchy of reliability:
MOST reliable: Peer-reviewed research, expert consensus, primary sources
MODERATE: Established news organizations, verified reports
LEAST reliable: Social media posts, unknown websites, viral content
Golden rule: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence!