Your Librarian
What is Lateral Reading?
The SIFT Method of Evaluating Sources
 Infographic showing the steps of SIFT: Stop, investigate the source, find trusted coverage, trace claims, quotes and media to the original context.](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/2161/images/sift.png)
Before choosing a web source in your research go through the following four moves to determine how reliable and valid its claims are. This is a means of lateral reading, which is a method of fact checking by looking at other sources for verification
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INVESTIGATE
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FIND BETTER
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TRACE CLAIMS,
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Source: Mike Caufield. SIFT: The Four Moves. https://hapgood.us/2019/06/19/sift-the-four-moves. License: CC BY 4.0.
Checking Facts
- FactCheck.org
A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. Monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. 
Use LinkedIn to verify information about the author of a source.- Media Bias / Fact Check
The most comprehensive media bias resource on the internet. Currently lists 1800+ media sources in their database. - Politifact
A fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. - Snopes
Founded by David Mikkelson, a project begun in 1994 as an expression of his interest in researching urban legends that has since grown into the oldest and largest fact-checking site on the Internet, one widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and laypersons alike as one of the world’s essential resources. - Washington Post Fact Checker
Created by The Washington Post, this site serves to “truth squad” the statements of political figures regarding issues of great importance, be they national, international or local.
Identifying Bias
- How to Detect Media Bias (FAIR)Guidelines for detecting bias in media from Fairness in Accuracy & Reporting (FAIR).
- AllSides
Exposes bias and provides multiple angles on the same story so you can quickly get the full picture, not just one slant. - Media Bias Chart (Ad Fontes Media)Provides static and interactive media bias charts. Create a free account for access to the full interactive chart.
- Media Bias / Fact CheckThe most comprehensive media bias resource on the internet. Currently lists 1800+ media sources in their database.
