To judge a news source, check both the organization behind it and the evidence in the specific story. Look for who is responsible, who wrote the article, when it was published, whether its sources support its claims, and whether the headline and context match the reporting. A publisher’s reputation can inform your judgment, but it does not prove that every article is accurate.
Start with the outlet: who is responsible for this news?
Before sharing a report, identify the organization that published it. A domain name or polished design is not evidence of credibility on its own. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) recommends considering the source, including its mission and contact details.
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- Look for a clear account of the outlet’s mission and the kind of material it publishes.
- Check whether it identifies its editorial staff, ownership, or responsible organization.
- Look for working contact information and an explanation of how the outlet operates.
If you cannot tell who is accountable for the publication, treat that as a reason to seek stronger corroboration—not as proof that a particular claim is false.
Check the author and publication date
Find the byline, then look for information about the author’s identity and relevant work. A byline is useful context, not a substitute for checking the reporting itself. If there is no identifiable author, be more cautious about relying on the item.
#1 Best Overall
Check when the story was published and whether it has been updated. An older report may be recirculated without its original date, making past events or conditions seem current. Compare the date with the event being described and with any newer information that could change the account.
Follow the evidence behind the claims
Open the article’s links rather than relying on the fact that it cites sources. Ask whether the linked material actually supports the claim, and whether the article represents it accurately. IFLA’s checklist calls attention to supporting sources; for consequential claims, look for documents, data, direct records, or named sources that readers can assess.
- Trace important claims to their underlying evidence, not just to another page repeating the same assertion.
- Check whether a quotation, statistic, or document is presented with enough context to understand it.
- Compare high-impact claims with independent reporting or primary material, such as the original record or statement.
- Notice whether the evidence supports the article’s central point or only a narrower detail.
A list of citations is not enough if those sources do not substantiate the story’s main claims.
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Read the full item, not just its headline
Headlines are compressed and can be more dramatic or certain than the reporting beneath them. Read the full story and compare its framing with the evidence in the body. Separate verifiable factual assertions from analysis, interpretation, and opinion; they may be valuable, but they are not the same kind of claim.
Also consider whether the item could be satire. IFLA’s prompts include “READ BEYOND” and “IS IT A JOKE?”—useful reminders that a headline or excerpt alone may not reveal a story’s purpose.
Check context and your own assumptions
A report can use accurate details yet leave out context that changes how readers understand them. Ask what relevant background, timing, or contrary evidence might be missing. Do not treat disagreement with your views as evidence that a report is false, and do not accept a claim simply because it confirms what you already believe. IFLA explicitly recommends checking your biases.
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Verify photos, videos, and social posts at their origin
When a story relies on a viral post or visual, verify that material separately from the article. UNESCO’s social-media verification guidance treats origin, authenticity, timing, attribution, and location as distinct checks.
- Origin: Look for the earliest identifiable source of the post, photo, or video rather than assuming a repost is original.
- Account authenticity: Check whether the account belongs to the person or organization it claims to represent.
- Timing: Distinguish when content was recorded from when it was uploaded or shared. An old image can be presented as a current event.
- Attribution and location: Check who created the visual and whether the claimed place can be established from available evidence.
If those details cannot be verified, describe the material as unverified rather than presenting its caption as established fact.
Use ratings and expert checks for what they can establish
For specialized or high-impact claims, consult qualified experts, established fact-checking organizations, or original documents. A trust label or rating can add context, but it cannot establish that an individual article is correct.
Rating systems have specific scopes. UNESCO describes the Global Disinformation Index’s ratings as site-level risk ratings and says they are not intended for censorship or curtailing media freedom. A site-level assessment should not be mistaken for a verdict on every story it publishes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare outlets using the same criteria
If you are choosing between two outlets, apply the same questions to each rather than relying on a single reputation score. Relevant comparison criteria include transparency about responsibility, author identity and relevant experience, traceability and quality of sourcing, correction and accountability practices, timeliness and context, and whether reporting is distinguished from commentary.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThese checks support a reasoned comparison, not a universal numerical score. The IFLA checklist and UNESCO’s discussion of transparency and accountability offer guidance, but they do not prescribe one scoring formula for all publishers.
A quick check before you share
- Identify the organization behind the item and whether it explains who is responsible.
- Check the author and publication or update date.
- Open the key sources and confirm they support the claims.
- Read beyond the headline; distinguish reporting from opinion and check for satire or missing context.
- For social or visual evidence, investigate its origin, account, timing, attribution, and location.
- For important or specialized claims, look for independent corroboration or qualified expertise.
Credibility is a judgment about evidence and context, not a permanent label. UNESCO Courier editor-in-chief Agnès Bardon put the broader challenge succinctly in “Is journalism old news?” (2026): “An abundance of information guarantees neither its quality nor its accuracy.”
Further reading
UNESCO’s 2018 handbook Journalism, Fake News & Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training includes practical lessons on fact-checking and online verification. UNESCO’s publication page was updated in 2024. The IFLA infographic How to Spot Fake News sets out short prompts including “CHECK THE AUTHOR,” “SUPPORTING SOURCES?” and “CHECK THE DATE.”
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