Practical digital skills

Read online news with context

Trace a news claim to its original reporting, separate event and publication dates, and compare independent coverage.

Step-by-step guideUpdated
Follow the method ↓
A reader compares news pages with notes and source documents

The answer in 30 seconds

A headline, a search snippet and a repost may all describe the same event differently. Open the full article and write down the exact claim you want to verify before looking elsewhere.

Start with the original report, identify who produced the evidence and when, then compare the claim with an independent account before sharing it.

Examples to adapt

A dramatic photo

Search for its original context before assuming it shows the event described in the caption.

A changing story

Read the update note and compare earlier and later claims rather than treating the latest headline as the whole history.

Follow the method

  1. 1
    State the claim

    Record the people, place, event and date mentioned. Separate what is reported from interpretation or opinion.

  2. 2
    Find the first account

    Follow links and named sources back to the original reporting, document, interview or data release.

  3. 3
    Check the timeline

    Compare the date of the event with publication and update dates. An old image can accompany a new post.

  4. 4
    Compare independently

    Look for another publisher that gathered its own evidence, and note what remains uncertain.

A checklist to keep

Use these checks to record what you found. The grid supports a decision; it does not make one for you.

Read online news with context: checklist
CheckWhat to examineAction
ClaimExact statement and who made itRecord
OriginFirst report or primary documentOpen
TimeEvent, publication and update datesCompare
CorroborationIndependent evidence and remaining uncertaintyNote

Download the CSV checklist

Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.

What to check

Two sites repeating the same wire report are not two independent confirmations.

A precise timestamp does not prove that an event happened as described.

Do not share a claim as settled when the primary evidence is still unavailable.

Common questions

Is a verified account enough?

It helps identify the account, but the specific claim still needs evidence.

Can I rely on a search snippet?

Open the page: snippets can omit qualifications, dates and corrections.

Sources and documentation

Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.

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