We asked faculty from the Department of Journalism at Penn State, "Is all news considered journalism?" Watch the video below to see how they responded.
A big part of being news literate is having the ability to determine if the information you are ingesting is accurate and the sources are reliable.
The Credibility Equation
Accuracy encompasses more than just supplying facts; it means presenting complete information that does not mislead or present information out of context. When a particular news source consistently publishes accurate news, it builds reliability. When a source is reliable, you can trust it to publish accurate news. Sources that are accurate and reliable have overall credibility; they can be believed.
How to tell?
There are numerous techniques for vetting information.
The CRAAP Test is a popular (and memorable) one invented by the librarians at California State University, and the SIFT Method developed by Mike Caulfield of Washington State University encourages us to dig deeper.
RumorGuard outlines five factors to consider:
- Authenticity
- Source
- Evidence
- Context
- Reasoning
To sharpen your vetting skills, visit our Games & Activities page where you can explore RumorGuard, learn steps to vet sources, and test your knowledge.