How to know if a news story is real
Read beyond the headline. Check the source, event date and evidence before you share.
A widely shared story can still be wrong. Several sites may repeat the same claim. A story with only one report can be true, too. Look at the evidence, not just how often you see it.
For practice, imagine a post says the town pool closed today. The linked notice is from last summer. That old notice does not prove the pool is closed now.
- Read the whole report. Check who published it and whether it is news, opinion, an ad or a joke.
- Separate the date of the post from the date of the event. Find the original notice, record or full statement.
- Look for a second source with its own evidence. Check whether it merely quotes the first story.
- For local services, check the service's current official notice or known contact route.
- If you cannot confirm the claim, do not pass it on as fact. You can say that you have not verified it.
Use this made-up case: a post says a pool closed today, but its link is a notice from last summer. What does the notice establish? What current source would I need? Do not invent today's pool hours.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
A strong feeling is a reason to pause. It is not proof that a story is true or false.
Sources and more help
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