In a recent Spektrum article, Professor Hendrik Heuer and Professor Elena L. Glassman discuss six key criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of news sites. These criteria were developed as part of a study published in 2024 and help to distinguish trustworthy from untrustworthy websites.
The six criteria are:
- Content: Does the website spread problematic slogans and myths, such as far-right conspiracy theories?
- Political positioning: Does it only give space to certain political actors or ideas? Who shares the website’s content on social media?
- Authorship: Who are the site’s authors? Can their existence and journalistic qualifications be verified?
- Professional standards: Does the website make a clear distinction between fact and opinion? Are different sides of a topic presented?
- References: Are sources cited and reproduced correctly?
- Reputation: How is the website judged by third parties, such as quality newspapers?
These criteria provide a sound basis for assessing the trustworthiness of online news sites and are particularly relevant at a time when fake domains and disinformation are an increasing threat.
The full article can be found on the Spektrum website: Doppelganger: Fake domains spread Russian propaganda.