FYS 100P -- Healthy Living in College (Fall 2023): Reputable Sources--Newspapers

When trying to determine how reputable and reliable a resource is, ask yourself the questions below.

Authority: Who is the Author? Are they qualified or an expert in their field? Is there contact information for online author(s) (for websites)?

Accuracy: Can the facts in the resource be double checked against other sources? Does the resource have good references/citations or does it link to other reputable resources (in the case of internet resources)?

Currency: Is the research or information in the resources current and fresh? Is it more the 5 years old? Is it considered current for its field?

Objectivity: Is the resource free of bias or opinion? Is the author trying to sell an idea, product or point of view? Is the information factual and objective rather than subjective?

As part of your 4th Hour of Rigor assignment for this class you are required to present an item from a reputable newspaper to the class. Since determining if a newspaper is "reputable" requires critical thinking skills, consider the following description of reputable newspapers, used with the permission of the University of Alabama Libraries. 

Generally, a reputable newspaper is a publication with a strong track record of publishing accurate and verifiable information. There will be some kind of editorial oversight, e.g., fact-checking in a newspaper article. National newspapers like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post are just a few examples of reputable newspapers. Some newspapers to avoid are those with obvious political leanings and biases; and small newspapers which might not go through editing/fact-checking. 

Examine the newspaper to see if it explains its editorial policy and how articles are approved for publication. Or Google the title to see if there are any reported "red flags" such as bias or questionable content. To try to determine accuracy, check what other sources are saying about the topic. Are other news media outlets reporting the same set of facts?  Also make sure that it is long enough and presents enough details.

Finally, be on the lookout for items that are labelled Opinion, Analysis or Letter to the Editor.  These might not stick to the facts, and you might want to think twice about using them for your presentation.

If you have any doubt about the article before you use it, check with your professor or a librarian.

The library has some databases to help you find newspaper articles appropriate for you assignment: