Fake News: Websites

The web is a great information resource. Because there is so much information you can usually find some information on your topic. However, because anyone can put anything on the web, you need to be very careful when using the web as a research source.

You can use the following checklist to help you to determine the reliability of the information you find on a website: 

ACCURACY

• Is the information reliable and correct?
• Is there an editor who verifies the information?

AUTHORITY

• Is there an author? What are his or her qualifications?
• What is the sponsoring organization? Is it reputable?
• Look for links providing information about the author and his or her e-mail address.
• Check for "about us," "philosophy," etc. for information about the organization.

OBJECTIVITY

• Does the website show a bias?
• Is there advertising on the page?
• What is the purpose of the site? To sell, to inform, to persuade?

CURRENCY

• Does the site include the dates it was created and updated?
• How current are the links? Have any expired or moved?
• Consider if currency is especially important for the research topic.

COVERAGE

• How does the site compare with other sites on this topic?
• Is material covered in depth rather than superficially?

• FactCheck.org

  A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center. Monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, speeches, interviews, and press releases.
• Hoaxy

  Hoaxy® visualizes the spread of claims and related fact checking online. A claim may be a fake news article, hoax, rumor, conspiracy theory, satire, or even an accurate report. Hoaxy tracks the social sharing of links to stories published by two types of websites: (1) Independent fact-checking organizations, such as snopes.com, politifact.com, and factcheck.org, that routinely fact check unverified claims. (2) Sources that often publish inaccurate, unverified, or satirical claims according to lists compiled and published by reputable news and fact-checking organizations.
• OpenSecrets.org

  Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
• Politifact.com

  PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent newspaper in Florida.
• Pundifact

  Part of Politifact, features statements by politicians and other experts in the press.
• SciCheck.org

  A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center. Focuses exclusively on false and misleading scientific claims that are made by partisans to influence public policy.
• Snopes.com

  Award-winning fact-checking site. The snopes.com website was founded by David Mikkelson in 1995, and has grown into what is widely regarded by folklorists, journalists, and laypersons alike as one of the World Wide Web's essential resources.

• #LibrariesResist Resource List Fake News

  Curated list of resources for Fake News, Propaganda, Fact Checking, Media Literacy
• American Library Association -- Fake News: A Library Resource Round-Up

  A collection of links from the ALA Public Programs Office
• Indiana University East - Fake News: Resources

  LibGuide for identifying fake news and checking/verifying news claims.
• International Fact-Checking Network - Poynter Institute for Media Studies

  The Poynter Institute is a global leader in journalism. The page contains stories about trends and best practices in fact-checking worldwide. Also, updates from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
• NPR - All Tech Considered - Fake News or Real?

  NPR Tech, Culture and Communication. Useful list of pointers for recognizing fake news websites.
• Pierce College - FAKE NEWS vs. REAL NEWS: How to Determine the Reliability of Sources

  Helpful tips for recognizing fake news websites.