Vetting A Source
This is the very first step in vetting a news source that you have not heard of before.
Do a "quick search"-use a search engine to check the site's reputation.
This is the "baiting" use of sensationalized language, purposely vague headlines, or exaggerated headlines to drive clicks.
Clickbait tactics
A site that features a lot of capitalized words or a high number of pop-up ads is likely more interested in this than actual information.
Gathering web traffic (or clicks)
This is the term for the writer's name on the news coverage,
Byline
Besides Google, these are 2 other search engines recommended for a reverse image search.
TinEye and Yandex
The second step for vetting a news source is to check if they have clear, public rules for things like fairness and accuracy, often called an editorial policy or code of ethics.
Look for standards
This problem occurs when a source constantly focuses on one side of a legitimate debate and ignores or distorts other perspectives.
Lack of balance or bias
A sleek web design or a professional-looking "About" page should not immediately make you do this on an unfamiliar site.
Trust the site
Credible news sources show they are accountable for mistakes by publishing this.
A correction or retraction
This is the tool recommended for seeing if images or videos have been misrepresented or altered by checking where the visual originally came from.
A reverse image search
List 2 ways you can assess the news coverage of an article.
1. Read several articles on the same topic to determine if the coverage is original or unbiased
2. Check for grammatical errors or spelling mistakes
How can you determine if a site is using manipulated images or videos?
Use a reverse image search tool such as TinEye or Yandex
Why is it important to check the byline of a source?
1. Confirm the author is a professional
2. A sign of transparency (being open) and accountability (being responsible for what you say).
If a story has a quote, you should search for this to make sure the words were not taken out of context.
Checking for this includes looking for the owner, funders, and responsible labeling of advertising on a site.
Transparency
How can you use Wikipedia in your research?
As a starting point to gather background information, but it should not be used as a final source.
What is the purpose of websites like PolitiFact or Snopes?
Fact-checking sites
Before you use a website with a .com or a .org domain in your research, what do you need to do?
Vet or evaluate the source