Newspapers can be considered authoritative resources; however, not all newspapers are reliable. It's important to analyse media sources as you would with any other resource you use in assignment work.

Consider the following when evaluating the credibility of newspapers.

Bias:

- Look for newspaper bias, e.g., left or right-leaning political views.

- Think about your own possible personal bias.

Author:

- Who wrote the article?

- How credible is the author?

Source:

- Consider the media source.

• Is the source independently run or does it have commercial interests? This may affect the type and the way news is presented. 
• How credible is the source of news?
• Intention of the media source, e.g., is the information presented intended to be a joke or satire? Are there any signs of misinformation (falsely reported information) or disinformation (intentionally intended to mislead)?

Currency:

 - Consider the date the information was from. Is it still relevant? Has there been any updates to reporting on the topic since? 

Steps you can take to ensure accuracy and a balanced view

• Check links to sources within the article to ensure they relate and support the article content.
• Ensure the information reported is up to date and relevant.
• Read news from a range of sources to compare perspectives.
• Use fact-checking sites like:

• AAP Fact Check

Australian reputable fact-checking site.

• Politifact 

American: rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials.

• Snopes 

American: checks internet rumours and misinformation.

Where to find reputable newspapers

Local, State and National Libraries are a great place to obtain free newspapers. Generally, you will need to be a member of the library for digital newspapers. The National Library of Australia holds a good collection of digital newspapers.

- You can sign up for free if you are an Australian resident or visiting from overseas.

- Visit the Australian Newspapers Research Guide to find out more.

Librarian tips:

Variety is key 

- Don't rely solely on social media as your news source;

- Use different sources for your news - a combination of independent, traditional and international news;

- Use a range of resources in your assessment to ensure a robust and balanced discussion (don't rely on media sources as your main source of research);

- Use a combination of scholarly and authoritative sources in alignment with your assessment brief and lecturer's advice.

Visit our guide for more tips on how to assess scholarly and authoritative sources of information.