There are many different places to look for news and current events. The links here are just a sampling of what is available to you.
Remember to evaluate your sources:
The simplest thing to do with online news sources is to check the links (if any) given in an article. Do the links work? Are the sources at those links actually valid, reliable, biased, etc? If it's a print source or provides any type of citation, you may need to look up an article's supporting sources in one of our library databases or even on the open web. Again, you'll want to double check those sources. Being published in print doesn't necessarily mean it's more reliable than an electronic source. Always evaluate your sources!
Research Tools: Where you retrieve information can indicate the reliability of a resource. Use links from this page. While this can provide a more focused search option than the open web (where you can get conspiracy theories and sites masquerading as news sources), you still need to double check your sources by determining their biases (if any) and utilizing multiple sources to get a fuller picture of your research topic.
Source: Use some of the fact-checking resources below to research your source. Does the newspaper you're using have a specific bias?
Author/Reporters: Can you find information on an author or reporter? What else have they published recently? Are they a real person? Do they approach a topic with inflammatory language (not terminology or language you don't like, but language intentionally meant to incite emotional reactions)? Or is the language as unbiased as possible and factual? Remember, editorial pieces are going to sound much different than factual articles. And you may encounter topics or language that makes you uncomfortable, even in factual articles. A reporter/article can challenge your ideas and still be factual and unbiased.
Timeliness: Check the dates on the supporting sources. Do those dates make sense given the topic and publication date of the article you're using? For example, if you're reading a news article on nutrition published in 2018, and it's providing supporting sources from thirty years ago, ask yourself why? Can you find more recent sources on the specific topic?
Multiple Sources: Does the article provide multiple supporting sources? Can you find other sources for the topic outside the sources provided by the author/reporter? It can be easy to find one article that supports a specific opinion, even if the bulk of evidence supports an opposing view. And one source doesn't necessarily make a case for an opinion. Research the topic and determine if you're finding evidence that supports the article/author. And don't just stop with the first resource you find - take the time to really investigate.
When in Doubt: If you find yourself unsure of the bias or validity of a source, contact Mrs. Quinn for help. Part of a librarian's training is in determining valid and reliable resources.
