Fake news, fact-checking, and bias: How to check for facts, bias, and fake news
As a community college library, we are NOT a fact-checking service. Through this guide, TCC librarians provide instruction, resources, and tips for our students, and for others to practice their own skills in fact-checking, evaluating sources, and detecting media bias.
START HERE: Sites you can use to check facts and media bias
- Truth or FictionA non-partisan website where "Internet users can quickly and easily get information about eRumors, fake news, disinformation, warnings, offers, requests for help, myths, hoaxes, virus warnings, and humorous or inspirational stories that are circulated by email."
- PolitiFactPolitiFact staffers research statements and rate their accuracy on the Truth-O-Meter, from True to False. The most ridiculous falsehoods get the lowest rating, Pants on Fire.
Checking fake news
Don't get caught using a fake news source! Doublecheck your sources against these lists of fake and/or otherwise unreliable "news" sources:
- False, Misleading, Clickbait-y, and/or Satirical “News” SourcesScroll down to page 3 of this Google Doc to check your sources against the continuously updated list (900+ and counting!) of news sources that are fake, clickbait-y, conspiracy-theorist, or satirical. The list of sources is arranged alphabetically.
- Snopes' Field Guide to Fake News Sites and Hoax PurveyorsSnopes.com's updated guide to the internet's clickbaiting, news-faking, social media exploiting dark side.
Checking media bias
- Media Bias/Fact CheckAn independent media outlet dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices.They maintain a database of 900+ news sources.
- AllSidesNews and issues from multiple perspectives. The site clearly identifies each news story's position (left, center, or right).
Tips for How to Recognize a Fake News Story
In a Huffington Post story from November 2016, the author lists nine things to look for to help determine if a news story is real or fake:
Image source: "How To Recognize A Fake News Story" by Nick Robins-Early, Huffington Post, Nov. 22, 2016.
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How to Recognize a Fake News Story (Huffington Post)For the whole story and more information on the list provided above.
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Fake Or Real? How To Self-Check The News And Get The FactsA news item from NPR, with tips on how to self-check the news to ensure you're getting a real news story.
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What are Confirmation Bias Examples?"Confirmation bias is the tendency for people to selectively search for and consider information that confirms already held beliefs. People also tend to reject evidence that contradicts their opinions." This page has some examples of confirmation bias.
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The Fact Checker’s guide for detecting fake newsClear and quick tips for how to detect fake news, from the Fact Checker section of the Washington Post: "When you read them [articles], pay attention to the following signs that the article may be fake. There are fake news stories generated by both left-leaning and right-leaning websites, and the same rules apply to both."
Why Fact Check?
"It's more important than ever to be critical online."
Watch this short video (1 min, 33 sec) to compare real-life experiences with and without fact-checking. Video developed by Swedish fact checker Viralgranskaren and IIS (The Internet Foundation In Sweden).
Quick guide handout from the library
Untangling disinformation
Audio below is part of a series from National Public Radio, March 2021
Crash Course videos
- Navigating Digital Information - Crash Course video playlistPlaylist of 10+ short videos with innovative graphics, last updated 2020. Includes videos on: fact checking, evaluating evidence, evaluating photos, and more. Crash Course videos are high-quality, with a mix of live-action and animated graphics. Not openly licensed but you can link/embed them in Canvas courses.
- Media Literacy - Crash Course video playlistPlaylist of 12+ short videos with innovative graphics, last updated 2020. Includes videos on: history of media literacy, media influence & persuasion, online advertising, the darker side of media, and more. Crash Course videos are high-quality, with a mix of live-action and animated graphics. Not openly licensed but you can link/embed them in Canvas courses.
Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.
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