Evaluating Information

What are some of the things to look for when deciding on the reliability/legitimacy of a website?

Credibility

Is an author listed?

Can the author be contacted?

Are the author’s qualifications listed?

Who sponsors/publishes the page? Are they reputable?

Accuracy

Is the date of the site current?

Are the links up to date and working?

Is the information consistent throughout the page?

Has the author taken care to check for misspellings, poor grammar, etc.

Trustworthiness

What is the purpose of the information? Inform?

Sell? Entertain? Persuade?

Are all sides of an issue presented?

Is the author giving factual information (not trying to persuade you of a certain opinion)?

Support

Does the author let you know where the information came from?

Are the sources listed?

Are there other resources with similar information?

Fact Checking Resources

Try this quiz from the News Literacy Project to help you recognize 'credibility'.

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