How to Get Accurate News

• Goals
  • Explain how to get accurate news
  • Easily and effectively get accurate news

The Method

1. Identify multiple reliable and unbiased sources of news.

   1. Avoid sources that are unreliable or strongly biased.

2. Skim several (2-3+) of these sources.

3. Cross-check the reliable sources against each other.

Tips

• Ad Fontes Media (AFM) rates news sources for their accuracy and their bias.

  • Use AFM to find sources that are reliable and unbiased.

• If a news article passes the 5 following tests, it is likely reliable. If it fails two or more, it is likely unreliable.

  1. Emotional Manipulation Check – Does the article rely on strong emotions (fear, outrage, or moral superiority) rather than facts and reasoning?

  2. Evidence & Sources Check – Does the article cite primary sources, verifiable data, or expert opinions?

  3. Balanced Presentation Check – Does it present multiple perspectives fairly, avoiding oversimplified “good vs. evil” narratives?

  4. Source Reliability Check – Is the news organization known for factual reporting and minimal bias?

  5. Confirmation Bias Check – Does the article challenge your thinking rather than just reinforcing what you already believe?

  6. Check Fact-Checking Sites – Sites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and Media Bias/Fact Check can help verify claims.

  7. Look for International Coverage – Sometimes foreign news agencies provide a different perspective on U.S. or global events.