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Mis/Disinformation (aka Fake News): Finding Credible Information

This guide will explain the differences between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. It will also provide examples and resources on how to check if a source is credible.

Use These Steps to Evaluation Information

When reading an article, page, or post... SIFT

  • Stop
    • Do you know the website or source of information?
    • What is the reputation of the source?
    • What is the reputation of the claim?
    • Don't read or share until you can answer these questions satisfactorily.
       
  • Investigate the Source
    • Who is the author of the information?  
    • What are their credentials?  Are they a credible expert on the subject?
    • What is the author's purpose or agenda?
    • Research the claims being made?
       
  • Find Better Coverage (Lateral Reading)
    • Look for trusted sources that cover the same information.
    • Find in-depth sources that discuss the topic.
    • Is there consensus about the claim or is there disagreement?
    • Read multiple sources to gain a variety of information about the topic
  • Trace information to original context
    • Ask yourself if you may be seeing something out of context.
    • Could claims, quotes or videos been altered or manipulated?
    • Research and trace back to the original claim, quote or video.
    • Is the context or information different in the original?

Example SIFT

If you were to critically evaluate this news article, what information might you want to check?  What information is important? 

  • Publisher 
  • Author
  • Article material
  • Photos, videos, and media
  • Quotes

Checking the following information, you would discover that:

  • NPR stands for National Public Radio and is a left-leaning non-profit news station. 
  • The Author, Jonaki Mehta, is a journalist who has written and produced for NPR with a wide area of expertise including education and accessability. 

Pro Tip: Make sure to go to different sources when checking the background or biographical information of a person or organization. For example, when searching for information on Jonaki Nehta, you would not click on the NPR website, but rather see what other websites or news stations have to say about her or have her work. This is because if an article is false or not credible, you do not want to stay on that article, but rather see what others have to say about the matter.