As Election Day draws near, 59% of Americans say they are following news about the presidential candidates very or fairly closely. But many people are getting confusing or inaccurate election news — and it can be hard to know what to believe.
The key to spotting fake news is looking at the sources in a story. A reputable news source will list the experts quoted in the article, and it should make clear why they’re qualified to talk about the topic at hand. If you see names that don’t sound familiar, try googling them. A good tip is to look for a news site’s “About” section, which should include information about who works at the organization, where it’s located, and if it’s a nonprofit, its sources of funding. You should also look for a disclosure about any political agendas or conflicts of interest that might influence an expert’s opinion. For example, if an article quotes research from a specific lab, check whether that lab is well-respected and unbiased. And if the source is a scientist, check that their research has been peer reviewed.