Discernment

Critical thinking tips:

- Be skeptical of all news, especially the news you like or already believe

- What is the source of the information?

- What is the source's source?

- How credible is that source?

- What biases might the source have?

- What is the context?

- How much information is being conveyed here? What facts?

- How much emotional language is being used?

- What is the framing of this information?

- What is the source directing the reader or viewer to conclude?

- Cross reference it. Are any other credible sources reporting the same or similar?

- Be willing to question your own beliefs and compare what you KNOW to what you BELIEVE.

- Consider opposing views, contradictory evidence, and alternative explanations.

- Assign a weight or measure of credibility to the information based on all of this. Be willing to disregard news you like or want to be true as well as willing to believe news you do not like or do not want to be true.