Fake News has received a lot of press lately. In fact “fake news” was the top word in 2017.  For people under 30, 
online news is more popular than TV news and people under 50 get half of their news from online sources. 
Here are 4 steps for evaluating News: 
1. 
Vet the Publisher’s Credibility. 
• 
What is the domain name? A domain name that ends with “.com.co” is not to be trusted.  Something 
like abcnews.com looks legit, but if it is listed as abcnews.com.co, be wary. 
• 
What is the publication’s point of view? Check out the “About Us” section to learn more about the 
publishers.  It will also tell you if the publication is meant to be satirical, like the Onion. 
2. 
Pay Attention to Writing Quality. 
• 
Does the publication have all caps or way too many emphatic punctuation marks?!?!?!? Proper 
reporting does not adhere to such informal grammar. The article you are reading is probably not vetted. 
3. 
Check out the Sources and Citations. 
• 
Does the publisher meet academic citation standards? Your teachers and professors constantly tell you 
to cite and reference appropriately. This is how we can check your sources. The same is true for online 
news. Check the sources. 
Ask the Pros 
• 
Check out fact-checking websites like factcheck.org 
Read more at https://www.summer.harvard.edu/inside-summer/4-tips-spotting-fake-news-story 
Take the Fake News Quiz! https://www.channelone.com/feature/quiz-can-you-spot-the-fake-news-story/ 
Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
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