Truthiness 2.0

Deciding what to believe in today's complex information landscape takes critical thinking, soul-searching, and unbiased fact-checking. Consider asking yourself whether you believe that a news source is accurate because:

• you agree with it
• it agrees with what you've seen in other sources
• it looks and sounds like a professional new piece
• it's from a source you're familiar with

In fact, none of these are criteria for evaluation. Critical thinking requires stepping outside your comfort zone and asking yourself "how do I know what I know?" It also requires asking the same of the sources you choose to use. Where does your information come from? 

Be Vigilant

Fake news has recently become big news. It's nothing new but has become much more mainstream. Many people believe something they see because they agree with it, but this doesn't make it real. Understand your own biases and scrutinize the information you find.

Here are some tips:

• Slow down. Listen, watch and read closely.
• Find out where the information comes from - verify it in a library database.
• Watch out for emotional appeals - these can often cloud your judgment.
• Be wary of social media news statements - many of these are false.
• Ask yourself, "How do I know what I know?" And ask this of others