Good Information

There are few things that I love more than finding, reading, and learning from good information. In the days of social media and "news-tertainment" it is so easy to get lost in the flood of clickbait and mis- and disinformation.

What is one to do when so much content is in our faces all the time? How is one to determine if what they read online is real or not?

All is not lost.

In addition to resources such as FactCheck.org and Snopes, there are steps to be taken when reading a news source that can help us to determine if what we are reading is factual and grounded in good research.

In short though, if you found it on social media and the source doesn't have roots elsewhere, it's probably false or misleading.

In 2016, the Huffington Post published an article with 9 steps to help one avoid accidentally sharing fake news. The steps they discuss are:

1. To read past the headline. Many outlets that produce incorrect "news" exploit the fact that many people share articles online without first reading the whole story. Often times they will lead with information that seems factual before diverting into strange theories and hearsay. An excellent way to avoid this is to read an article in full before posting it to social media accounts or sharing it with friends.

2. Check and double check what news outlet published the piece. While some sources clearly state that they are satire, others do not and are designed to resemble other, more trusted news sources. Additionally, it is important to consider the political leanings of a particular news source. Obtaining all of our news from one side of the spectrum or the other can lead to confirmation bias and being sucked into an echo-chamber. An excellent source for this is Media Bias Fact Check, a database of information about news sources, including their political leaning, if they are satire, pseudoscience, or conspiracy theorists.

3. Check the published date and time. As the saying goes, once it is on the internet, it will be there forever. This really sucks for embarrassing photos, but can be a real detriment when it comes to the circulation of news and information online. When reading an article, it is hugely important to confirm when it was published before sharing it. With how quickly current events evolve, sharing out-of-date news can have detrimental effects on productive political discussion.

4. The author of an article has huge importance. When confirming whether information is factual or not, it is helpful to look up the author and their credentials. A quick search can reveal much about a person, particularly if that person is an active journalist and produces good work. Reading their other work can help to determine if what they are publishing currently is well-researched and factual, and give you an idea of their bias.

5. Even if an author is generally truthful, it is vital to confirm what links and sources are used in an article. Some things to look for are direct quotes from professionals (people that you can look up and read about their credentials and other published work) and links to academic/scientific research. Invalid or false reporting does not include links to source material. If they can't back up their argument, it's probably untrue. Do remember to follow the trail and use the same steps for confirming whether linked resources are valid (read the whole post, check the publication's credentials, look up who wrote the piece and when, and see where they source their information). Many false news sources create a loop of confirmation where they link back to their own website to validate their argument.

6. Be aware of questionable quotes or images. If it seems shocking, unreal, or out of character, it probably is. At the same time, additional searching can confirm whether a quote or image is real or not. TinEye is a useful resource for finding out if a picture online is real or not.

7. It is important to be aware of confirmation bias. As humans, we are drawn towards things that confirm our own world view and make us feel comfortable. When sharing news or other information, we must strive to share based on fact rather than what we want to be true. This can be difficult as we read stories that challenge our world view or contradict what we believed to be true about a person or situation.

8. Do a quick search to determine if other news sources are reporting on the topic. Exclusive interviews aside, if only one source is reporting on an issue they claim is major news, it is likely that it is false (even with an exclusive interview, other sources should be talking about the topic from other perspectives and with good research).

9. Last but not least, think before you share online. Not only do things stay online forever, fake news outlets rely on people sharing their articles without thinking through whether they are true or not. As things get shared, they are boosted in the algorithm and seen by more viewers. There can be very real consequences for individuals who fall victim to fake news, such as those who face harassment after false claims about them go viral online.

Success, Kid!

Many other articles and resources outline similar steps for determining whether information online is factual. No matter what news sources you frequent, it is important to go through each step for every article that you read -- not just the ones you decide to share.

To cap us off, I thought it would be nice for me to share some of the resources that I go to for information.

• Pew Research Center

• Financial Times

• BBC

• National Public Radio (NPR)

• The Columbian (this is the print paper local to where I am currently living. Local papers are one of the best resources for information on what is going on in your area -- but don't forget to confirm their bias and fact-check every article!)