What is your lens? | SCU Fact Checking Guide

Where is it from?

Consider publisher bias, amount of ads, and purpose of the source.

Essential tips:

1

Publishers themselves often have their own biases which can influence the credibility of the sources they publish.

2

Publishers often tend to specialize in certain subject matter so it is important to make sure the subject of the source matches the publisher’s focus and expertise.

The purpose for a source being created can also be a sign of possible bias or influences that reduce the source’s credibility.

3

4

Purpose is often not explicitly stated, and can require some critical thinking and investigation to determine.

An excessive number of ads indicates that the source’s main purpose may be generating ad revenue -- raising questions about the publisher’s credibility.

5

Publisher:

The organization or group that publishes a source can have a significant effect on the information’s credibility and reliability. It is important to recognize that groups with strong biases, usually political often publish unreliable sources. A few guides have been created to help examine the political leanings of websites and other news sources, including here and here.

Remember to examine the background of the publisher to determine whether they are actually qualified to distribute sources on your research subject. For example, if you are reading a source discussing the economic ramifications of increasing agricultural subsidies and it was published on Food Network, that should be a red flag, as opposed to if it were in the Economist. In most cases, the academic discipline of the publisher should reflect what they publish.

Purpose:

Determining the purpose of a source can be difficult and may require some critical thinking. Sometimes the source explicitly states its purpose, like when a politician writes an editorial in support of their legislation. Other times you may need to look for clues. Clickbait titles, frequent advertisements, exaggerated language, and conflicts of interest from the publisher or author often indicate a non academic purpose. Often determining the publisher’s legitimacy and purpose requires inference.

Advertisements:

Another warning sign of a source being from an unreliable site or publisher is the use of advertisements. Generally, if there pop-up ads constantly pester you as you scroll through a source or if you keep seeing sidebar ads, this indicates that the publisher is primarily motivated by advertising profits. This does not immediately discredit the source, but it should make you more skeptical and cause you to look for more verification of the source.

Additional Resources:

Pew Research Center - Where News Audiences Fit on the Political Spectrum

Info Wars - Alternate Reality: Viral Propaganda Chart Demonizes Independent Media