I check various news sources throughout the day to learn what is going on in the world. The sources I most often turn to are CNN for national and global news, The Boston Globe for local news and events, Discovery News online for updates on technology and science and People Magazine for entertainment news. On a daily basis I strive to obtain a variety of news on a broad range of subjects so that I feel as though I have an educated and well-rounded view.
Occasionally, I also come across factual news information on social media. For example, I learned through a Facebook post today that former President George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton watched the final game of the NCAA championship together. This post struck me as very interesting considering President Bush and Clinton's differing political views. After reading the post I confirmed that it was correct through CBSNews.com. CBS similarly reported the story with an accompanying eyewitness photo of the former Presidents sitting in the stands next to one another.
Social Media can certainly prove to be a reliable source of information. However, it is always important to remember that it can also be a vehicle for unreliable information. In order to be certain that a story or post you are reading from social media is in fact correct it is good to follow up and fact check on your own. Looking for the same story from a reliable news source is an effective way to double check the facts of a story from social media.
Christine,
ReplyDeleteI have a similar routine when it comes to getting news updates. I think it is very important to check multiple sites for stories. When I look for entertainment news I typically check sites like Buzzfeed but when I am looking for updates to global and national security events, I check CNN and the Washington Post. By checking multiple sites, you’re more likely to confirm the facts of a story, something that is needed when so many inaccurate messages can travel so quickly. I also think it’s important to check not only the date but that time (if given) that a message or story is posted. I have run into cases at work where I have needed to report on media monitoring at work and the difference of a story posted an hour later can make a difference. For more unusual stories, I will frequently check multiple sources. Your example about the former Presidents of the United States watching the game together would prompt me to check a few more sources for verification. It seems like a story that be easily made up for site traffic or a prank. As a general rule I have trusted sites that I will always default to but there are additional sites I check depending on the subject matter I’m verifying.