Being able to critically assess a news or other information piece will help you determine if you need to take action on the information you read or if you should look to another source. We all have confirmation bias, which makes us more likely to believe sources that confirm our feelings on a topic.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions - How to Spot Fake News
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Consider the Source: Click away from the source to investigate the site, its mission and content information.
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Check the Author: Are they credible, are they real?
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Check the Date: Old news stories may not be relevant to current events.
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Check your Biases: Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement.
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Read Beyond: Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story.
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Supporting Sources: Click on those links. Determine if the information given actually supports the story.
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Is it a Joke? Research the site and author to be sure that it isn't satire.
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Ask the Experts: Ask a librarian or check a fact checking site.
