We know that it can be challenging to wade through the news and media sources we find through our social media sites or when we are searching the internet. There are many ways to help us determine the credibility of the information that we locate, as a Bryant student you have likely learned about the CRAAP test. This is a pneumonic device that helps to guide you through what to look for when you are wading through the information jungle.
We also know that the ability to capture different points of view on current events can be elusive. It is human nature to follow news sources that cover information about policies and perspectives with which one agrees and it is likely that we end up in a bit of an echo-chamber due to algorithms in both our web browsers and our social media. We can spend time searching out other news sources, trying to discover the history and stances of those news sources, but when it is for our personal use, we may not be willing to put in the effort to think critically about how best to find this information.
This is where a tool like AllSides can be useful. AllSides is a news site that brings together diverse reporting on single issues to help bring differing perspectives to light.
So if you are just starting your journey to try to gather various viewpoints on current news, AllSides might be a place to get started. Once you are feeling more confident in your ability to discern bias or become more familiar with news sources and their leanings, dig more deeply! In the end, doing your own fact-checking, corroborating information from a variety of sources, and taking a look at the original information - be it policies, studies, or other types of data - can help you to gain a fully educated and in-depth perspective on current issues.
P.S. There are a variety of media bias charts out there - this is one from AllSides. AllSides also gives you the ability to rank their rating on new stories as L (left), C (center), or R (right).
