Read the News
What is news?
"News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different media: word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, electronic communication, or through the testimony of observers and witnesses to events."
News. (2025, October 6). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News#:~:text=News%20is%20information%20about%20current,differentiate%20it%20from%20soft%20media.
Breaking news
Evaluate the news
Quick Source Check: The 3-Finger Test
Use three fast questions before you add a source to your paper:
☝️ Relevance: Does this directly support my research or my focus?
✌️ Credibility: Who created it, and are they qualified? Can I identify the author, publication, and date?
🤟 Usability: Can I understand it, quote or paraphrase it correctly, and cite it?
▼ Tips for quick decisions
- Not sure about credibility? Google the author + the name of the website or publication.
- If it is too hard to read, search for a clearer article on the same idea.
- When stuck, ask a librarian or try a new keyword from your interview transcript.
💡 Pro tip: If any finger stays down, it’s a sign you may need a better source.
Let's play a game!
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Bad News GameBad News is a game that puts you in charge of a fake news publication. You will learn about what goes into successful bad news and how people manipulate it for their benefit. It takes ten or fifteen minutes and might leave you wanting to play it again.