What makes website reliable

Search this Guide Search. Website Evaluation Tools. Evaluating Website Information How to evaluate websites. Is it Fake News or Not! How to tell. From: Barker, Joe. Check the Web Domain! Check the web domain of your websites for the fastest way to determine the likelihood of a credible resource! Some domains have gatekeeper functions which restricts the type of site which can be included.

This means webpages with the domains. Web Domains in Scholarly Research Where does your source come from? Generally Reliable. Less Reliable. With that in mind, here are eight ways to tell if a website is reliable.

The internet is full of websites that were started five minutes ago. What you want are sites associated with trusted institutions that have been around for a while and have a proven track record of reliability and integrity. Such sites may include those run by government agencies , nonprofit organizations, foundations, or colleges and universities. You wouldn't go to an auto mechanic if you broke your leg, and you wouldn't go to the hospital to have your car repaired.

This is an obvious point: Look for websites that specialize in the kind of information you're seeking. So if you're writing a story on a flu outbreak, check out medical websites, such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and so on. Sites run by companies and business—their websites usually end in. And if they're trying to sell you something, chances are whatever information they're presenting will be tilted in favor of their product. That's not to say corporate sites should be excluded entirely.

But be wary. Reporters write a lot about politics, and there are plenty of political websites out there. But many of them are run by groups that have a bias in favor of one political party or philosophy. A conservative website isn't likely to report objectively on a liberal politician, and vice versa. Steer clear of sites with a political ax to grind and instead look for ones that are non-partisan.

Does a date of publication appear? Finally, who is responsible for the information? Is an author or publisher listed at all? Some topics such as medical research and new technical information must be up-to-date to be valuable to readers. However, bias and opinion compromise even recent information, keeping it from being objective and trustworthy.

Certainly, any organization or individual is entitled to a perspective. Likewise, some organizations, particularly companies who want sales or politicians who want votes, want readers to agree with their views. Few advertisements present credible supporting information for the positions they present! For example, consider material posted on the Web with a. How much factual information about the automobile will appear?

Will be the purpose of the posted information be to inform readers about the specific features of the new model or to urge them to buy? In what ways do language and graphics bias readers about the new car? If you read an article from The Onion, the humorous satire of current events, can you trust the supposedly actual information the article presents? Are you supposed to? The Onion wants readers to laugh, not to learn. Who is the author and what are his or her credentials?

Have they written other content on this topic? Are they a professor or expert in the subject they are writing about? Is the content non-biased? Web Domains in Scholarly Research Where does your source come from? However, beware of political sites used to sway public opinion. Use these sites with caution, checking for credibility and authority. These sites are great for information about a particular company.

However be aware that company websites are used to promote, so be sure the information is non-biased. Truth in the News The Center for News Literacy makes the case for being smart consumers of online news. Evaluate sources Does the website have an "About Us" section? Does it disclose a source of funding? Knowing this information enables you to judge the website's purpose and viewpoint.