• Ad Fontes Media has produced a bias table showing where major news outlets land on the political spectrum. United Press International, CBS Local News and Military Times are near the center.

• The Cornell University Library offers a guide for spotting fabricated or misleading information. Some key points:

• Headlines can be misleading. Read the whole story.
• If a story from an unfamiliar news organization is brought to your attention, click directly to the source to determine its mission, funders, credibility.
• Check the date of the story. If it is not recent, it may not be relevant.
• Is the information highly unusual? If so, it may be satire, or fiction.
• Check your own biases. Are your beliefs affecting your willingness or unwillingness to accept information as reliable?

• The University of Maryland provides tips to research writers which can be translated into evaluating news:

• Does the story clearly name sources and establish their credibility?
• What is the purpose of the news source? Does it attempt to appeal to a particular audience?
• Was the story written for a particular audience, and if so, what is that audience’s expectations for credibility?
• Are the authors known and respected in their field?
• Is the publication near the center of the bias spectrum, and respected as a source by discerning readers?
• Are there charts and graphs that add credibility?