Lesson Two

Investigate the Source
The “S” in SIFT is for “Stop”. The “I” is for investigate the source. One way we investigate the source is to hover over profile information (or click it on mobile). 

If we don’t know the source, we can Just Add Wikipedia to find out more.

Learn more at infodemic.blog:  https://infodemic.blog/

Investigate the Source Exercises

Answer the following questions, and be prepared to explain your decision. 

1. Is this a reliable source?

The system's medical center in northwest Seattle has turned a hospital garage lot into a drive-through clinic that can test a person every five minutes. https://t.co/NvWtgPRClx

— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) March 10, 2020

2. How about this? 

3. Is this really ABC News? 
   

Find Better Coverage

To find better coverage, we learned the News search cross-check technique. When stories are true, we usually find multiple reliable sources covering:

When stories are dubious, we often find no coverage, or fact-checks showing something is false.

Find Better Coverage Exercises

Find out what other coverage says

1. Does Garlic help prevent COVID-19?
2. Is this coronavirus-related a jailbreak in Italy?
3. Is this “Flatten the Curve” idea supported by evidence?
4. Was the National Guard activated to create a “containment area” in New York?
5. Is it true the every election year has a disease? (see below)
   

Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media back the the Original Context

Make sure the way something is being framed is accurate. One way is to click through to the article and make sure it matches and (if the date matters) that it is up-to-date.

For more complex cases we showed another technique: Click through and Search:

1. Did the administration order coronavirus posters taken down from immigration courts?
2. Did people in Iran die from drinking alcohol to stop COVID-19?
3. Did the disease come from somewhere else?