How to Find Credible News Sources Online
The amount of data available on the Internet can make the search for credible information difficult.
Social media and search engines, while commonly used as search tools, are not the only routes to access information from news media publishers online. There are many ways to filter, organize, and understand information from news publishers efficiently and effectively, beyond visiting news media publisher websites directly.
This guide aims to introduce you to some of these methods.
How to verify the credibility of a news media source
First and foremost, it’s important to know how to assess the credibility of news media online. The ability to evaluate information is an essential skill and right in a democratic country like Canada. A credible news media source is generally characterized by a commitment to accuracy for the public, independence, honesty, journalistic ethics, accountability, and equity in the treatment of information. These sources carefully verify their information, cite their sources, correct their errors, and avoid partisan biases as much as possible. They can include newspapers, magazines, TV channels, news websites, newsletters, podcasts and radio stations, to name a few. While many of these sources publish content in traditional formats, most also offer content available online.
ACCESSING CREDIBLE NEWS ONLINE
Here are a number of ways to access information from credible news sources online, beyond simply visiting their websites directly.
ONLINE NEWS MEDIA AND SUBSCRIPTION
Most news publishers have online platforms that you can subscribe to. This subscription generally provides immediate and sometimes exclusive access to their articles, videos, and other content formats.
Mobile news apps
Many news organizations offer mobile apps that allow users to access information quickly and conveniently. These apps usually offer options to customize content according to your interests. If you subscribe to a news publisher, you will most likely also be able to access their content via their affiliated mobile app.
News alerts
You can set up alerts on a phone, a smartwatch, or a computer to receive notifications on specific topics or news events. It's a great way to stay informed without having to actively search for information.
RSS FEEDS (REALLY SIMPLE SYNDICATION)
This is a technology that allows users to subscribe to content feeds from various websites. Users can receive information updates directly on their devices without having to visit each site individually.
News podcasts
Podcasts are digital audio recordings available on the Internet. Many news media produce podcasts on various topics, which can be listened to at your convenience.
News aggregators
News aggregators are applications or websites that collect information from different sources and show it in one place. This allows users to view a variety of perspectives on the same topic.
Tab saving
Modern web browsers allow you to save or "bookmark" web pages for later viewing. This can be useful for organizing and quickly accessing your favourite information sources.
Newsletters
Newsletters are another way to stay up to date on specific topics. They’re generally sent directly to an email address at a chosen frequency (daily, weekly, monthly). They usually group a selection of articles, updates, and sometimes exclusive content. Newsletters provide an overview of a subject or organization without having to actively visit their website.
Local media
Access to local media is crucial, especially for people living outside major cities. These sources provide community-specific information, allowing residents to stay informed about local events, political issues, and cultural activities that nonlocal sources may overlook.
It is essential to consult credible information in a conscious and critical manner, especially in the digital age.
Using alternatives to traditional search engines and social networks can improve the information search experience, increase access to credible and diverse sources, and help avoid incorrect or misleading information.
Although this guide was developed at Meta's request, the content and recommendations are entirely independently offered by Nellie Brière based on her digital literacy expertise.
We hope that this guide will help Canadians navigate the vast ocean of online information.