Evaluating Information

Before you go further or share the content, STOP and check your emotions. 

How does it make you feel?

The way a piece of media makes you feel can help you answer important questions as you evaluate the information.

Then, ask these questions:

Are you already familiar with the source of the information (author, publisher, content creator, website, etc.)?

What do you know about them?

What is the reputation of the source?

What kind of content is this? 

Is it news, advertising, entertainment, opinion, propaganda, or raw information?

The answers to these questions will lead you to the next step.

Helpful questions to ask:

When was the information published?

Is it outdated information? Is it something that circulated on the Internet years ago but is making the rounds again?

Who created or published the information, and what is its purpose?

Is it there to inform, persuade, entertain, sell something, provoke, or document?

What does the author gain by publishing this information?

What can you find out about the author, publisher, or content creator?

Are they an expert in their field?

Are they reputable within their industry?

Who funds their work, or who funded the work of the original content producer?

Use fact-checking skills to verify or find better coverage.

What do others say about the information, article, or image?

Are other reputable sources reporting on it? If they're not, what does that tell you?

If one of the other sources you come across offers better, more reputable coverage than your original piece, you can let go of the original piece and focus on the better information instead.