Knowing that my sources are reliable gives me peace of mind and a great sense of satisfaction that I have presented trustworthy information. Here are some of the tools I use to verify source reputation and credibility. Think of these services as background check providers for publishers and media agencies.
Media Bias / Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com)
Media Bias / Fact Check is a "100% Independent and 100% Human-Driven" website that rates the bias, factual accuracy, and credibility of a wide variety of media agencies. MBFC's methodology is designed to identify ideologically influenced content that reflects partisan U.S. politics. MBFC also takes into account affiliations that media agencies may belong to, as well as their adherence to journalism and reporting standards.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use
- No login required
- Free with ads
- Ad-free memberships available
Cons:
- Ad-heavy interface for non-members
- Results may vary with international sources
Ad Fontes Media Interactive Bias and Reliability Chart (http://app.adfontesmedia.com/chart/interactive)
This interactive tool provides media bias and reliability reports on a wide variety of news sources. The system is driven by a large team of professional analysts who have rated hundreds of thousands of articles and reports from thousands of media outlets. The search tool allows users to focus in on the chart to see where a particular news service falls on the 2-scale rating system.
Pros:
- Limited free access for visitors
- Mobile app available
- Well-designed interface
- High number of sources
- Additional resources for media literacy
Cons:
- Expensive for paid members
- Only 5 searches per day for free users
- Free users can only access 250 sources
