Fake News
Need help evaluating your news source? Ask a Librarian!
The CRAAP test provides a framework to evaluate sources, including news. Considering the various criteria of the CRAAP test can help you to determine whether content should be accepted at face value, cited, or shared on social media. The test was developed by librarians at California State University.
Beware of CRAAP
But really this
Evaluation Criteria
Currency: The timeliness of the information.
- When was the information published or posted?
- Has the information been revised or updated?
- Does the story report events, or is it speculating on the future?
- Are the links functional?
Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.
Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
- Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
- Would you be comfortable citing this source in a research paper?
- Are you confident in this article merely because it is confirming something you already believe
- Alternately, is it worded in a way that immediately elicits an emotional reaction (anger, etc.)?
Authority: The source of the information.
- Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
- What are the author's credentials or organizational affiliations?
- Is there contact information, such as a publisher or email address?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net
Accuracy: The reliability, truthfulness and correctness of the content.
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence?
- Has the information been reviewed or refereed? For news articles, is it clear that the publication has an editor?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source?
- Does the language or tone seem unbiased and free of emotion?
- Are there spelling, grammar or typographical errors?
Purpose: The reason the information exists.
- What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade?
- Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
- Is the information fact, opinion or propaganda?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional or personal biases?