What makes a reliable website

Information on the internet is mostly unfiltered, requiring extra caution in selecting reliable sources. Virtually anyone can create a web site on a topic, regardless of their training, education, or experience in the subject field.

You may also find e-mail messages and newsgroup postings in your search results, as well as business-related or commercial sites, posted by companies whose primary purpose is to convince consumers of the value of their products or services. When evaluating a web site, check these basic points:. The following PDFs provide more tools for evaluating websites.

Use the checklist to help in critically analyzing a questionable website or blog. But many of them are run by groups that have a bias in favor of one political party or philosophy. A conservative website isn't likely to report objectively on a liberal politician, and vice versa.

Steer clear of sites with a political ax to grind and instead look for ones that are non-partisan. As a reporter, you need the most up-to-date information available, so if a website seems old, it's probably best to steer clear. One way to check: Look for a "last updated" date on the page or site. If a site looks poorly designed and amateurish, chances are it was created by amateurs.

Sloppy writing is another bad sign. Steer clear. But be careful: Just because a website is professionally designed doesn't mean it's reliable. Articles or studies whose authors are named are often—though not always—more reliable than works produced anonymously. It makes sense: If someone is willing to put their name on something they've written, chances are they stand by the information it contains.

And if you have the name of the author, you can always Google them to check their credentials. Reputable websites often link to each other.

You can find out which other websites link to the site you're researching by conducting a link-specific Google search. The search results will show you which websites link to the one you're researching. If lots of sites are linking to your site, and those sites seem reputable, that's a good sign.

Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Does the article or study have any authors listed? If so, do they cite or link to authoritative sources, or are they writing their own opinions without backing these up with facts? Are their credentials listed?

Additionally, check the date of publication. As you find information, try to verify its authenticity and legitimacy using other reliable sites. If you find another credible site that contradicts your original source, further research may be required. Wikipedia offers a large volume of information, but because its entries are created in a collaborative effort involving many different users, its reliability can vary widely.