Expository Essay: Learning How to Fact-Check Information

The advancement of technology and social media has allowed us to grasp information
through a click of a finger. When curious about something, it is easy for us to find answers on
the internet rather than going to the library to read books. However, it also made us susceptible
to fake news and biases. For this reason, it is important to evaluate information we find online.
Fact-checking is a distinct and modern form of journalism where it aims to analyze public
remarks in a fair and objective manner in order to correct public misconceptions and enhance
awareness of key issues. It can be done through research, learning the basics of
misinformation, and evaluating credible sources.
Misinformation is described as incorrect or misleading information. It is information
shared regardless whether there is intent to mislead; it is difficult to spot because it is usually
facts sprinkled with lies. So, how do we verify whether the material we’re reading is factual or
not? We address that by assessing its sources.
There are six criteria we can use to know credible sources. First is authority – the
website should be able to provide contact information, developer or owner information, and
author credentials or qualifications. The website’s purpose should be clearly stated, it usually
comes through the URL’s domain - .gov sites are government sites, .edu sites are college and
university sites and these are example of credible while domain’s such as .com, .org, .net,
domains can be purchased and may be sources of fake news. Next is coverage, to back up true
claims, the website should include external links to verifiable sources. A site's coverage is
incomplete and may be untrustworthy if it solely connects to its own pages and occasionally
links to a low-authority, suspicious site. The website should adhere to timeliness where the time
the news is written and updated is stated. It should also have objectivity and what it’s about.
Lastly is accuracy, the claims made on the website should be backed up with evidence and
when tested against a variety of independent sources, it should come out as truthful.
Verifying the credibility of information can be tough, but it is better to put on much work
for a while than to blindly believe and be influenced by wrong information.