Pellissippi HOME | Library Site A-Z

News Literacy: How to Spot Fake News

Key Points

  • Is the news site widely known and understood to be a reputable source of information? 
  • Does the news site have an "About" page?
  • Who are the authors and what do we know about them?
  • Does the site include links to the original source?
  • Is the information publicized by other news sites?
  • What is the domain name?
    • .gov & .edu - reputable
    • .org .com & .net - use with caution
    • "blogger" or .wordpress - not reputable
    • .com.lo or .com.co - fake

How do I know if it's a fake news site or a reputable source?

Here are some quick tips to help you determine if you're looking at a reputable news source:

How To Spot Fake News infograph

Fake News Quick Tip Video

Watch the video to learn how to detect fake news in just over 2 minutes.

Check Your Knowledge

URL: https://lib.pstcc.edu/newsliteracy