“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
- Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Be News Savvy
Check Your Facts
Have you found something on the Internet or in a publication and you're wondering if it's true? Check out these sites for further clarification.
- FactCheck.orgThis resource, provided by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, focuses on political issues.
- PolitifactThis Pulitzer Prize-winning site, provided by the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly, analyzes political issues. Check out this site's "truth-o-meters" and "flip-o-meters".
- Snopes.comThis site seeks to verify the truth behind a multitude of urban legends. Cites outside sources.
Tips for Finding News
Social media
Great for breaking news and first-person accounts in real-time
- Sometimes initial info later proven to be false or inaccurate; be aware of updated info, particularly before spreading news to others
Consider reliability and credibility before using or sharing info
- How was info posted? - Friend? News outlet that you follow?
- How are claims supported? - Expert opinion? Academic research?
- How often was item "liked" or shared? By whom?
Aggregators (Google News, BuzzFeed,Yahoo)
Quick way to get a news update
Consider purpose and bias
- Be aware of sponsored content - It's paid to be there.
- May be customized to your search history or personal settings - Variety of sources and perspectives will be limited.
News
How do you know what to trust?
Learn more about a specific source: Media Bias Fact Check
Click on this Source Bias Chart
