Next time you come across a story that sounds too good (or bad) to be true, there is a good chance it is as there are many bad actors online purporting to be credible news outlets.
How do you tell the difference? Jennifer Peters, reporter for the News Media Alliance has put together an evergreen list of tips to help distinguish fact from fiction.
Look for the social media profile behind the byline, she advises, as that will give you an indication of their legitimacy based on other posts and pieces of work.
"Check out his or her social media accounts and other work, and find out what he or she typically writes about. If his or her other stories seem suspicious or opinionated as opposed to fact-based, take the article you’re reading with a grain of salt," it reads.
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