With the introduction of online sources for news and current events, the opportunity for misinformation has become a major concern. For many years, when newspapers, radio, and television were the primary sources available for news, most providers recognized that their service was a “public good.” As such, they had a responsibility to verify the accuracy and reliability of their content.
With more sources of information at your fingertips, accuracy sometimes becomes diluted or even nonexistent as anyone with an opinion, whether factual or not, can publish online.
Just like viral infections start with tiny germs and spread quickly in your body to make you (and others) sick, viral stories use online hosts to make “copies” of the original post to spread it quickly. Within a very short time, many people might believe something to be true, just because they have seen it repeatedly. The accuracy of the information was not verified, even though it was shared millions of times.
What can you do to prevent the spread of viral online “germs”? The News Literacy Project has identified five key factors that you can apply to any story to weed out misinformation: authenticity, source, evidence, context, and reasoning.
First, ask yourself, does this even seem reasonable or credible? Is it authentic? If the headline and the story do not match, that is a red flag. If the story seems too outlandish to be true, that could be another reason to question whether it is true.
Be aware that pictures, stories, videos, and even people’s voices can be manipulated through artificial intelligence (Al), so you should carefully evaluate everything you see and hear.
Second, is the source trustworthy? Most reliable news outlets are transparent with where they get their information. They also might publish their ethics policies. Check out a publication’s sources and policies to see if you are comfortable with their ethical standards. No sources? Another red flag.
Third, is there evidence that supports any claims that were made? If statements are made without evidence, you should hesitate before believing them. Even if evidence is presented, follow up to see if the evidence is credible.
Next, does the context make sense? If things seem out of place or are in conflict, dig deeper. Remember, not all sources are reliable.
Finally, is it supported by solid reasoning? If the story goes against common sense, trust your instincts and question the story.
National News Literacy Week, February 37, 2025, helps provide educators with tools and resources to help students more skillfully navigate today’s information landscape.
You can learn more here.
Melinda McCulley is Extension Specialist for Instructional Support at Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. This article previously appeared in Warren County Connections, the newsletter of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County.
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