How to Vet a Source

Need to quickly determine if information is reliable and valid?

To vet a source, use the SIFT Method:

Online Verification Skills Part 1  Introduction 

Online Verification Skills Part 2  Investigate the Source

Online Verification Skills Part 3  Finding the Original Source

Online Verification Skills Part 4  Look For Trusted Work  

Check Yourself with Lateral Reading: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #3 with author John Green:

Practice CLICK RESTRAINT! When searching, don’t click on the first result. Look through the entire first page or two and read through your results and check the URL for red flags. This takes just a little more time, but you will then have information that is more relevant to what you are looking for.

What is reliable information? Take a look at the ethical standards of NPR journalists and refer to them as you are validating your source. Also, take a look at the Seven Standards of Quality Journalism:

Here are some guidelines NPR uses for their VISUAL JOURNALISM that you can also apply to images you are validating.