Learning Commons: Fake News and Media Literacy: Media Literacy Skill: Fact-Checking

Media Literacy Skill: Fact-Checking

Fact-Checking

There are three key questions you need to ask as you evaluate online information:

Who is behind this information?
What is their evidence for their claims?
What do other sources say about the organization and their claims?

In order to answer these questions, you will need to search beyond your current page and read laterally.

Learn more about fact-checking:

Crash Course. (2019, January 15). The facts about fact-checking: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #2. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/EZsaA0w_0z0

Fact-Checking Resources

All Sides
Provides balanced news coverage, media bias ratings, and information from all sides of the political spectrum. Offers a breakdown of trending topics from the perspective of three different sources.
Fact Check.org
A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels.
Fact Checker from the Washington Post
This website "truth squads" comments from political figures about important local, national, and international issues.
FlackCheck.org
From the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, this site deals with false claims in advertising, particularly political advertising.
Media Bias / Fact Check
This site shows a bias meter of news sources focusing on bias level and fact checking their reporting.
OpenSecrets.org
Tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
PolitiFact
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.
Snopes
Investigates urban legends and common fallacies, misinformation, old wives tales, strange news stories, rumors, celebrity gossip, and similar items.

Fake News and Media Literacy

Media Literacy Skill: Fact-Checking

Fact-Checking

Fact-Checking Resources

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