Journalism Research Guide

There are a number of ways to consider & evaluate news and a few are listed below. Stony Brook's Center for News Literacy has the following:

• Verification:  

  • Does the article, newscast, etc provide evidence to confirm the accuracy or truth of the statements made? (also consider how much evidence is presented.

• Independence:

  • Is there a system of checks and balances to give independence to the writers from direct influence or control by and outside source?

• Accountability:

  • authorship is clear and there is responsibility for the work. 

Pictures, infographics, and video are very powerful sources of information. It is as important to interrogate these types of sources as any others.

What is this infographic trying to convey? What does it tell you? What does it leave out? 

BEAM is an acronym intended to help students think about the various ways we might use sources when writing a researched argument. Joseph Bizup, an English professor at Boston University.

Remember that part of your credibility rests on you validating sources.