As with all research, it is important to consider the sources of information for news items. Just as in scholarly works, citing to sources allows readers to verify information independently. The absence of sources may cast doubt on whether a news sources is authentic.
Source: Media Shift 2016
Just as for any other goods or services, a news consumer must consider the credentials of an information source. These include professional affiliations, academic and professional credentials, reputation (good, bad, or nonexistent), and prior publications.
Expert: having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience
Source: Merriam-Webster dictionary
On X (Twitter) and Facebook, it's hard to distinguish authentic accounts from fan and fake accounts. The blue check mark next to an account is a verification that the account is authentic. Can you spot the fake account? Recently, the blue check mark is now an up charge so some are choosing not to pay to have it. This will require more evaluation to determine if the account you are looking at on X is real.
