Lateral Reading is fact checking while you read. It's a process thathelps you determine an author’s credibility, intent and biases. It’s what professional fact-checkers do.
Instead of going deep, go wide: Use Lateral Reading to help you determine credibility and authority.
From Standford History Education Group , Jan. 16, 2020.
Questions to Ask:
Who funds or sponsors the site where the original piece was published? What do other authoritative sources have to say about that site?
When you do a search on the topic of the original piece, are the initial results from fact-checking organizations?
Have questions been raised about other articles the author has written?
Does what you’re finding elsewhere contradict the original piece?
Are credible news outlets reporting on (or perhaps more important, not reporting on) what you’re reading?
If other reliable sources confirm what you’re reading, you can feel confident about its credibility.