Evaluate Sources

Ad Fontes Media – Interactive Media Bias Chart
Rates news and “news-like” sources on two scales: reliability (how fact-based the reporting is) and bias (left–right political leaning). Lets you quickly see where a source falls so you can judge its overall credibility.

💡 Tip: Choose sources that rank high in reliability (higher on the chart) and close to the center for bias. If a source falls low on reliability or far left/right on the chart, double-check the information with a more neutral, fact-focused outlet.

Note: Not all local or academic sources appear on the chart — that’s okay. Use it mainly to evaluate major news outlets.

The SIFT Method

A step-by-step process to help uncover the truth behind a website, image, video, or online source.

Based on the work of Mike Caulfield, Washington State University.

Investigate the Source

Always check who made a source and why. A Nobel Prize economist? Useful to know. A video from the dairy industry? Also important context.

Fact-checkers don’t just stay on one page — they read laterally, jumping to other sites to see what’s being said and piecing together the bigger picture.

Lateral Reading = Reading Across Websites

Open other tabs right away, don’t just rely on the source itself
Look up the author, organization, or publisher on trusted sites
Compare across multiple sources to spot patterns or red flags
Decide whether the source is credible before using it

📺 Watch this 2:44 video to see lateral reading in action (hint: Wikipedia is a great shortcut!)

Find the Original

Things online often lose their context. A short video clip, a cropped photo, or a headline about research may not tell the whole story — and sometimes it’s misleading on purpose.

To be sure, trace what you see back to the original source and check if it was reported accurately.

Tracing = Going Upstream to the Source

Find the full video, image, or article instead of relying on a clip or repost
Check whether the research or quote actually says what’s claimed
Look for the first/original reporting before re-shares added spin
Compare how different outlets present the same event or study

📺 Watch this 1:33 video on re-reporting vs. original sources (and how to go “upstream” to check).

All Sides - Provides balanced news, media bias ratings, diverse perspectives, and real conversation.
FactCheck - A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.
Politifact - A fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others on its Truth-O-Meter.
Snopes - Investigates rumors and news stories from across the internet, covering a variety of topics.
Media Bias/Fact Check - A comprehensive media bias resource on the internet. There are currently 5700+ media sources and journalists listed.