Response to Article on Evaluating Source Credibility

Being a journalist requires more than just being able to write smoothly and clearly. Journalism also needs a firm foundation of facts and reliable sources before any writing can be considered suitable to publish. This article analyzes ways to look for credibility in sources on the internet, a medium of information that is constantly growing.

One strategy this article taught me was to look for publications with a specific author that may or may not have been peer reviewed. Sometimes I catch myself assuming writing on the internet has been edited and evaluated. The truth is, there are many writings on the internet that have had no such care.

Another strategy this article introduced to me was to look for bias in articles online. I do recall reading articles to help with an issue and finding small links to a product they are inconspicuously promoting. That is a sure-fire way of knowing they are not relying fully on facts.

Lastly, this article has taught me to not always assume all information has been transferred online. There are still many printed sources of scholarly information that has not been transferred to the internet. This then calls us to be extra careful and not lazy about our sources if we have the time.