LibGuides: The Library: Media Literacy

How to Check Your Sources

When you're trying to determine if a source is reliable or not, start out by giving it the CRAP test:

is it Current? (this is especially important in areas that change quickly, like science and technology!)
is it Reliable? (can you tell whether it is fact vs. opinion, does it credit its sources, is it accurate and written coherently?)
is it Authoritative? (is the author identified? What makes the author an expert?)
what is its Point of view? (is somebody paying money to promote this information? Is it trying to convince you to do or believe something? What is the author's perspective and bias?)

Strategies for spotting fake news from factcheck.org (check out the link for more info!):

Consider the source (is it a known, credible website?)
Read beyond the headline (be sure you fully understand what the author is communicating)
Check the author
What's the support?
Check the date
Is it a joke?
Check your biases (we all have them! Our feelings and ideas about a particular topic can make us misjudge a source)
Do your homework and check with the experts (can you find this information from more than one source? What do you know about the source?)

The Verification Handbook shows how journalists check their information for accuracy

Snopes.com
Snopes is the "definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation." Snopes debunks fake news, urban legends, and internet memes.
FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is "a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding." A great place to fact check information!
Emergent.info
Tracks and checks news and other information online in real-time
Google Reverse Image Search
Drag and drop an image to find out where it came from originally

Really Cute, but Totally Fake: How a fake video of a pig rescuing a baby goat went viral

Girl Catches Fire Twerking: How Jimmy Kimmel fooled other media organizations

Tracking Down a Fake News Creator: Locating a fake news writer and learning about his motivations

How Fake News Goes Viral: Tracing the origins and spreading of a fake news story

Digital Resource Center: News literacy lessons and standards

Source Reliability Checklist: Graphic organizer to help students assess a source

Stanford Study Findings: Report on student media literacy including sample student work

Skydiving Without a Parachute: Lesson which has students assess a fake video

Classroom Media Literacy Resources from the International Literacy Association and the NCTE

Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers
Ebook with strategies for students to fact check by Michael A. Caulfield, Director of Blended and Networked Learning at Washington State University Vancouver