Western Libraries

News Sources

About Publications

  • Ulrich's Periodical Directory contains publisher data, reviews written by librarians and other information for more than 300,000 periodicals (also called serials) of all types.

Is your Media Biased?

  • AllSides Provides multiple angles on the same story so you can get the full picture, not just one slant
  • Media Bias / Fact Check follows a strict methodology to determine the biases of news sources

How to Spot Fake News

Learn to spot fake news with this short video from FlackCheck.

Evaluating News Sources

Newspapers are excellent primary sources that capture reactions to events as they happen, and they are valuable records of the past and information sources for the present. That said, not all news sources are trustworthy or reliable. Knowing the reputation and political purposes of a newspaper are essential when assessing its value as a resource.

Critically evaluate the news sources that you choose to use in your research by considering the following:

Audience:

  • Who is the article intended for?
  • Is the language used appropriate for the intended audience?

Objectivity:

  • Is more than one side of the issue discussed?
  • Does the information seem to be well-researched?
  • Are sources given?

Purpose:

  • Why was the article written?
  • Is it meant to inform, persuade, entertain, or influence opinion?
  • Is there a political, social, or commercial agenda at work?