It’s the hard truth: not every news source we consume is reliable. While it’s an obvious truth to most people, it can cause stress and anxiety in readers trying to determine who they can trust. In the U.S., there are 8,000 news outlets for Americans to choose from to hear about local news. With so many out there, competition between the outlets means trying to find the most effective way to catch a reader’s attention. But, this isn’t always through ethical practices. Here’s a guide to determining how to find out if a news article is reliable or not, to keep you properly informed on current events.
Check the Name Behind a Publication
News stories can come from anyone. Whether they are qualified to tell the full story or not remains up to a reader to determine. Reputable news outlets are transparent about who writes their articles, if the articles were sponsored, and who the editorial team consisted of. Most credible news outlets have some version of an About page to identify the writers, the team, and their credentials that qualify them to deliver you your daily news.
Be more cautious of news outlets who are intentionally vague when it comes to who is writing the content, as well as who is making editorial decisions. For example, the case of a wealthy donor or corporate interest being involved in a news reporting process would be considered a conflict of interest. This should be disclosed by the news outlet. In most cases, readers would determine that the conflict of interest makes them unqualified to tell a news story. If that is not disclosed, it can make the reader skeptical of who is involved behind the scenes.
Sources and Attribution
Every quality news article needs real, qualified sources. All content written should include source references. Growing up, every student in school learns to cite all their sources in their written work. This continues through adulthood too, when it comes to news. All great journalists cite their sources, so the readers know exactly where the facts came from. Vague language like “sources say” or “some experts” do not include enough information to make their claims credible.
Multiple Perspectives Are Included
Credible news stories don’t just cover one side. This makes them biased and partial to a certain party involved in a news story. All sides and perspectives should be covered in news stories to let readers decide on their own what to think, based on all the facts surrounding a story. When only one perspective is covered, it shows the reader that the reporter or news outlet clearly has a preferred stance, as shown through their coverage.
Remove Biased Language
Recognizing biased language helps you split fact from opinion. But, readers don’t always have to do this themselves. Seeking out unbiased news articles is the best way to find reliable news. Unbiased news articles remove language that shows preference towards a certain perspective in reporting. It can be very obvious, like through shock factor language or language intended to anger the reader, or it can be subtle, like intentionally keeping contextual information out of the news coverage. With a conscious reading, readers can avoid unreliable news sources, getting only the right facts for every current event.
