Information literacy
There’s so much information at our fingertips, but how do we know whether a source can be trusted? These tools will help you find reliable sources and evaluate the accuracy of the information they share.
Recommended reading
Online resources
- Alison.com Diploma in Media Studies
- This free tool offers an in-depth look at how modern media has evolved and how it influences society and culture today. Visit Alison.com
- UNESCO Media and Information Literacy
- UNESCO offers two free Media and Information Literacy courses on their website — one for youth and one for adults. VISIT UNESCO.ORG
- Fact Check
- Using Fact Check, monitor the factual accuracy of statements from major U.S. political figures. VISIT FACTCHECK
- PolitiFact
- Politifact keeps tabs on statements from elected officials and checks those statements for accuracy. Visit PolitiFact
- Hoax-Slayer
- Hoax-Slayer provides information about Internet hoaxes, scams, and security issues to combat the spread of misinformation and help people protect their privacy and security online. Visit Hoax-Slayer
- Snopes.com
- Snopes.com is an independent fact-checking website dedicated to verifying or debunking the claims people are searching for or reading about the most on the Internet. Visit Snopes.com
- TruthOrFiction
- Quickly and easily get information about fake news, disinformation, warnings, offers, requests for help, myths, hoaxes, virus warnings, and humorous or inspirational stories that are circulated by email or social media. Visit TruthOrFiction
- Media Bias/Fact Check
- Check the bias and factual accuracy of a large number of news sources. Visit Media Bias/Fact Check
- AllSides
- AllSides rates media bias of different sources and presents news stories on key issues from multiple perspectives. Visit AllSides
Library databases
- Academic
- Look here for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world’s leading journals and reference sources. With millions of articles available in both PDF and HTML full-text with no restrictions, researchers are able to find accurate information quickly. Search Academic
- News publications
- This innovative full-text newspaper resource allows you to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, author, newspaper section, or other fields. Search News
- Opposing Viewpoints
- Continuously updated information and opinions cover hot issues and offer excellent arguments from a variety of perspectives. Search Opposing Viewpoints
How to spot fake news
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions has created this infographic with eight simple steps to help you spot fake news. The graphic is available for download and print in many languages.
