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We know it is important that the news we read is accurate and balanced. So how do we make sure what we are watching or reading is fair and impartial? This is when we need to become detectives and think critically about what we are seeing.

Think about the who, when, what, where and why - some important things to think about:

• Who wrote the story or is publishing it? Check if they have a reason to only present one side of a story or if they have a reputation for being biased. For example there are certain newspapers in the UK which traditionally support different political parties – this might make them more likely to present stories in a specific way
• When was the story written? Sometimes old news reappears on social media but is actually out of date and no longer accurate. Check that the article is up to date or if it is old check to see if maybe the facts have changed since it was written.
• What is the content of the article like? Check to see what evidence is provided in the article. Is there a range of sources to present balance or is it all one sided? Are the facts from somewhere you can trust?
• Where else is this story being reported? Search to see if the story is presented in a different way by another journalist or on another platform. Sometimes what we see on Facebook isn’t what is reported on another website so it’s worth double checking.
• Why might this story have been written? Is the article trying to persuade you of something or just informing you of facts? Be critical when you are watching or reading something and you can usually identify a purpose to the article.