COM 110: Interpersonal Communication

Use these questions to determine whether the source is credible. Many websites are not "good" or "bad," but somewhere in the middle. These questions will help you decide whether the website is trustworthy.

Who created it?

• Can you tell who wrote or created the content?
• Is there an "about us" page?
• Are they an expert on the topic? How can you tell if they're an expert? [Hint: Google their name to see if you can find out anything else about them.]

When was it created?

• When was the web page created? Or do you know when it was last updated?
• Was it published recently? Can you tell how old the information is? [Hint: For some topics, this is very important.]

Who sponsors the information?

• Can you tell who funds the web page?
• What can you tell about the organization sponsoring the information?
• Do they have any conflicts of interest? [Hint: Google the organization to see if you can find any other information about them.]

Is it relevant?

• Is the information relevant to your topic or assignment? 
• What is the purpose of the website or information? Entertainment? Education? Something else?

Knowing what's quality information and what's not is a challenge now that so much of it is online. It's important to remember that all news has an element of bias. Journalists will naturally and unwittingly choose to include certain pieces of information and leave out others, creating a story that is unique to their style and experience.  

In some cases, news publications have a clear agenda and will choose to only cover or report information that falls into certain categories. In others, you can read a more balanced spread of news that covers a wide array of perspectives. Knowing the context of an article can help you determine how you use it. As you read pay attention to a few characteristics that may hint at an overly biased news article:

• Word Choice
• Tone
• Omission of Facts

If you notice a journalist using extravagant words, a non-objective tone, or selectively using facts to prove a point, look elsewhere for your news.