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Research 101: Evaluating Information on the Internet: News Sources

Find out how to avoid a catastrophe when you engage with a web site!

What makes something newsworthy? It's new, unknown until now, grabs the attention, impacts the emotions. Consider the tendancy then for news to be biased, not well informed, and having a scope that is often not very in-depth but often uses broad generalizations and broad-sweeping, emotional claims.

First, is your News Source a Web Site?

If so, make sure it passes the tests of First Glance & Second Glance we've mentioned in this tutorial.

If it doesn't pass those tests, move on!

Second, how Biased is your News Source?

News almost always has a slant! Buyer Beware!

And beware of what we call confirmation bias! You may be consciously or unconsciously going to a source of information because it feeds your own bias. 

Read More:

puzzle of the word trustThe Challenge of Getting Good News

If you are looking at a news site, newspaper article, or newspaper, there are some unique questions you need to ask.

Read More:

News articles can use language and images that are neutral or that are intentionally used to evoke certain emotional responses or to persuade, with or without facts.

Is this information published:

  • As a report, factually?
  • As an opinion or column, with a point of view?
  • As propaganda, highly biased? Or a more balanced perspective?
  • With sources or authorities cited? And is the information verifiable?

News articles are typically published very close to an event it is reporting, which means:

  • It may be very current - When was it written? When was it last revised?
  • It may be missing important facts that have not come to light yet or have been published after this news item
  • It may be written too soon and not have all of the facts surrounding the event yet
  • It may include an emotional response that the writer has not had time to process all of the information that individual has received
  • It may be able to point you to a recent study that has just come out, which may be a source of research

News articles are typically written to sell newspapers or bring profit of some kind to the backers of the companies publishing the news, Ask yourself, why was this information published?

  • To inform? To explain?
  • To persuade? To sell?
  • How much of the news item is meant to be sensationalist, to create excitement or fear?
  • How much of the news item is meant to persuade you on one viewpoint?

News articles typically cover a highly focused topic, event, person, or organization but do not go into much depth. News articles may highlight one aspect of a topic and put it out of context, leaving you the need to place it in context by reading additional materials. And news articles typically are not written by an expert on the topic.

  • Do you need more in-depth knowledge?
  • Where would you best find more information on the topic covered in the news article?
  • Does the news article mention where you could find more information?

Typically news writers of newspapers & news sites are staff writers employed with the purpose of writing articles that will sell the newspaper. They are influenced by the mission of the newspaper and the company that owns it. News writers of other news sources may be anyone and may be influenced by their own agenda. .

Ask yourself:

  • Who is the author? What is the reputation of author/organization?
  • What is the affiliation? Is it published to represent a certain viewpoint? - Look for “About Us,” “Mission,” or “Values” if you are on a website.
  • What may be influencing the content, the slant, the argumentation?

Interested in learning more?

Visit our Research 101: Evaluating News.