The advancement in technology we are enjoying today has indeed brought immense improvement in how we communicate. We can now connect with people in any corner of the world as long as there is the internet. This development is not only helping bridge distance between families and friends, but it has been helping businesses to grow and expand.
Aside from communication, we are also updated with current news happening all over the world. Cable TV, social media, and websites have been instrumental in giving us the information we want to know. Being away from your country does not mean you are not aware of what is happening there.
Media organizations, including radio stations and print outfits, have established their websites to cater to their followers in and out of the country they are located in.
But as much as it is beneficial to get updates on happenings around us and beyond, how sure are we that we are getting real news from all these websites? Here are some areas to check.
Authority
It helps if you check on the reputation of the website. A website with a wide following from its area of operation can be a good sign that a website has a good reputation. When it comes to news, it may be better to trust websites with broadcast or print history. This means that they have the experience. If they are not reputable, they must have closed shop years ago.
Purpose
You can easily know the purpose of an article or an interview. Is it to shed light on a controversy? Or is it plainly to inform? A news item can also aim to get its readers to react. In all cases, an article should present all facts for a reader to correctly conclude on his own.
Relevance
What particular news is covered by the website? Does it include social, political, business, entertainment, environmental, and other issues? Which aspect are you interested in? Some websites may try to cover all aspects but may be time-consuming to select the articles you want to read. Other websites limit their topics to an important aspect only. A news article that does not fit into the usual coverage of a website may be dubious.
Currency
Does the website update you with current news on a daily basis, or does it post articles once a week? You should avoid websites that repost old news articles to make it appear that it is active. These websites are only adding to the confusion rather than giving you the right information.