Everyday Texts & Reliability

Newspapers tend to be a little more reliable than magazines.

 

Newspapers Magazines
Updated daily Not updated
Usually expository style (more reliable than narrative) Usually narrative style (less reliable than expository
Reporters college- & experience-trained in gather info & writing news stories Reporters may or may not be trained/experienced
Editors check over stories  
1st- and 2nd-hand information  

 

Recognized news organizations' websites tend to be a little more reliable than newspapers - once a newspaper is printed, it cannot be changed (though it can be ammended in a correction in the next day's paper); a web site can be updated with breaking news and additional information even after it has been published.

In general, the reliability of a web site can be difficult to determine.  In general, it is important for readers to think very carefully about a particular web site's reliability by considering these issues & questions.