5 Step Vetting Process

By News Literacy Project in Partnership with SmartNews

Only Evidence is reproducing here for your convenience portions of a fantastic infographic created by the News Literacy Progam in Partnership with SmartNews outlining a simple and straight forward 5-Step vetting process to better help each of us become a more discerning consumer of news and information.

1. Do a Quick Search

Conducting a simple search for information about a news source is a key first step in evaluating its credibility. It’s important to look beyond social media. Go to a search engine and plug in the name of the website or publication. Do other legitimate sources, such as standards-based news organizations or fact-checking websites, describe this publication as unreliable? Satirical? Is it a state-run propaganda “news” site? If so, there’s no need to spend more time vetting. Look elsewhere for reliable information.

2. Look for Standards

Reputable news organizations aspire to ethical guidelines and standards, including fairness, accuracy and independence. These standards should be available publicly — often in the form of editorial policies or a code of ethics. Look for evidence that a source follows such standards. If someone is mentioned in a critical story, for instance, did the journalist give that person a chance to comment?

Note: Some professional journalism standards are commonly shared across the industry, such as the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Other policies are unique to different newsrooms

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In this age of rampant misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, Only Evidence is here to help you identifying credible sources of news and information, and expose those that peddle in disinformation and misinformation. Only Evidence shares unbiased fact-based news and information from around the world. Each article, news story, current event, or video we consider posting on our site is first vetted by applying a simple 5 step process, you can learn too! Only Evidence separates fact from fiction and will show you how to do the same. Now more than ever, becoming a discerning consumer of news and information is so important. There is a lot at stake. Now let’s get to work!

3. Check for Transparency

Quality news sources should be transparent, not only about their reporting practices (see Step 2), but also about their ownership and funding. Is it clear who owns and runs the website or publication? Is advertising labeled responsibly? Can you tell who is writing and producing content? Is there a way to contact newsroom editors and reporters?

4. Examine How Errors are Handled

Credible news sources are accountable for mistakes and correct them. Do you see evidence that this source acknowleges then corrects or clarifies errors?

5. Assess Quality of News Coverage

An important step in vetting sources is taking time to read and assess

several news articles: Do you see original reporting? Do they provide

straight news reports, or just commentary and opinion? Are there

grammatical and/or spelling errors? How do news articles from this

source compare to coverage from other standards-based newsrooms

on the same topic? Many people have strong opinions about news

sources without evaluating them first.

ABOUT

5 Step Vetting

Process

By News Literacy Project in

Partnership with SmartNews

1. Do a Quick Search

2. Look For Standards Reputable news organizations aspire to ethical guidelines and standards, including fairness, accuracy and independence. These standards should be available publicly — often in the form of editorial policies or a code of ethics. Look for evidence that a source follows such standards. If someone is mentioned in a critical story, for instance, did the journalist give that person a chance to comment?

Note: Some professional journalism standards are commonly shared across the industry, such as the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Other policies are unique to different newsrooms

3. Check For Transparency Quality news sources should be transparent, not only about their reporting practices (see Step 2), but also about their ownership and funding. Is it clear who owns and runs the website or publication? Is advertising labeled responsibly? Can you tell who is writing and producing content? Is there a way to contactnewsroom editors and reporters?

4. Examine How Errors Are Handled Credible news sources are accountable for mistakes and correct them. Do you see evidence that this source acknowleges then corrects or clarifies errors?

5. Assess Quality of News Coverage An important step in vetting sources is taking time to read and assess the quality of several news articles: Do you see original reporting? Do they provide straight news reports, or just commentary and opinion? Are there grammatical and/or spelling errors? How do news articles from this source compare to coverage from other standards-based newsrooms on the same topic? Many people have strong opinions about news sources without evaluating them first.