News Media
How to read the news and hold your media accountable

How to read news articles properly and why it's important you do. Why should I care, and other questions you need to ask your news media.

By Deshnee Subramany

When I was young, I was taught how to understand the news with a newspaper. My grandfather would carefully remove each subsection and begin reading by shaking out the broadsheet and pointing to the headlines.

"Here," he pointed to the largest typeset across the big page, "is the most important story." He also showed me how the smaller headlines told you what were the second and third priorities of the news day.

"If you read the first paragraph, you will know everything you need about that story. Read the first paragraph of every article in the section and then come back to the ones you are interested in."

That worked very well for me at that time, where answering the basic five Ws and H - who, what, where, when, why and how - in the first two paragraphs was the standard. But news packaging has changed over the last 20 years, and so has our way of understanding how news articles are structured and what the agenda looks like (for better or worse - you decide).

The first rule of the news, and perhaps any aspect of life, is BE CURIOUS. Reading the news sounds like a simple task: open your device and scroll to a social media app where you'll (hopefully) see a post from a news outlet you (even more hopefully) follow instead of finding by mistake. But how do you know if what you're reading is true? Yes, news outlets are trusted and have legitimacy of storytelling. But as a news reader, it is in your best interest to verify it. It builds critical thinking skills, which empower you to think wider and deeper about topics.

All media companies, reporters and editors have an agenda. It is not possible for anyone to be objective about the news. Human beings are subjective by nature as we are only educated in what we have experienced. Reading several sources' reporting on one topic allows you the luxury of different viewpoints on the matter and gives you insight into everyone's agendas. That way, you can decide for yourself what is important to you and why.

Some countries more than others have guidelines that define how reporters operate and the consequences of acting in bad faith. Acquaint yourself with the relevant oversight bodies of your country and the ones you are interested in. This information empowers you to be able to check when standards are slipping in your media and what your avenues of recourse could be for harmful messaging. The media is only as strong as its public's participation in it.

1. Credible sources

Check if the article cites reliable sources. Legitimate news sources use information only from trustworthy outlets, experts, or official documents.
Experts: these are people who are educated or have experience in this field. Not all people who work in a sector are experts on it. If someone quoted is not an expert you are familiar with and something they're saying about a topic isn't really making sense in relation to the idea, google them. What kind of organisation do they work for? What have they said on the topic before? Which legitimate websites have mentioned them before and what was it about?
Official documents: official documents refer to texts from government organisations, reputable non-governmental organisations (consider tips from above), and organisations involved in the content. If a story tells you about Bain, then press releases, emails and other documentation from that company is regarded as legitimate. Do not confuse this with "the truth". A document from a relevant player is legitimate in that it is official. But often, they contain information that is meant to benefit their interests.
Trustworthy outlets: media companies that have been around for a long time are usually perceived as trustworthy. But there is a lot of conversation around their biases. It is important you have a good idea of what they have published in the past and compare specific stories to as many other news sources as possible.

2. Check the authors

Investigate the author's credentials and background. Experienced journalists or experts in the field will have produced a raft of work in the past that you can compare. While newer writers might not hold authority, they could give you a fresh perspective on a topic. You can check other outlets to see what their journalists are reporting. Checking authors also allows you to develop a relationship of your own with a particular writer. If you enjoy reading some of the stories one writes, then you know to look out for their byline in future.

3. Publication date:

You've seen it before: a huge headline or controversial video clip comes up on social media and it is being shared EVERYWHERE. And then there are comments saying "this is from last year".  Be aware of the publication date to ensure the information is current and relevant. Some topics evolve quickly, and outdated information can be misleading.

4. Objectivity and bias

While there is no such thing as objectivity, it is a journalist's profession to remain aware of their biases and to approach their work with objectivity in mind. This means that once the 5 Ws and H have been answered, every source's agenda must be questioned. Why does this person say this, while another seems to be saying something else? What information am I missing? Who else was quoted to show the writer had done their best to maintain objectivity in the piece? When it comes to bias, consider what adjectives are being used. Does the phrasing make you think a certain way about the topic it is describing?

5. Who does it serve?

Stories, whether on social media, radio, TV or a website, all have an agenda. All stories should have multiple sources and it should be clear about the facts. Each source represents different arguments and sides of the story and they must be scrutinised. Who does each comment serve? If not who, then for what possible outcome? These questions also help for when you are assessing sources.

6. Language

Language is important. Watch out for sensational comments, strange-sounding adjectives and exaggerated claims. Legitimate news pieces and social media posts should relay information in a calm and factual manner. Exclamations are usually reserved for tabloid content, which covers gossip and lifestyle stories. Hard news does not need sensationalisation. This does not mean it needs to be boring. There are many creative ways to write that convey personal tone and flair, and you'll get to know your favourite writers the more you read them.

7. Quotes and attribution

All quotes must be attributed to someone. If there are anonymous sources used in an article, many media houses (especially in South Africa) require a minimum of three independent people saying the same thing for it to be used in a news piece. If there are quotes - especially allegations - by an unnamed source, go back to points 1, 2 and 5. There needs to be sufficient information about who said what for readers to be able to assess the statements' credibility for themselves. If there is ambiguity in the text, it needs clarification. Don't feel afraid to reach out to the publication where you found the story and ask questions about confusing information.

8. Headlines and clickbait

Clickbait refers to a headline that promises information that is not in the news story. Many videos and links on social media do this repetitively. An example: "Beyonce had THIS to say about Israel's occupation of Palestine" - and there's no quote from her, except what social media users or fans have said on her behalf. The same is true when the headline asks a question: "Are more women victims of crimes than men?" The article doesn't contain a "yes" or "no" answer, nor statistics to verify the information.

Once you get to know a news brand, its authors, and the way they write, it will be easy to spot inconsistencies. Clicks are important for sales - but news authority and credibility is paramount.

9. Grammar and spelling:

Illegitimate organisations often use bots to write content. Think about spam messages in your inbox - when you read it you can tell that it was written by a bot with little understanding of the language it was sent to you in. AI bots are fast becoming the favourite option as they learn language. But bots cannot write like people. When you read content by a bot, even if the sentences are technically correct, they can be unnatural in their rhythms or repetitive. Use AI more to understand how it works and be sure your information is safe.

10. URL and website:

Examine the URL and website domain. Legitimate news outlets have professional-looking websites with accurate domain names. Be cautious of sites with unusual or suspicious URLs, like repeated letters or numbers in them.

11. Fact-checking sites:

Use fact-checking websites to verify claims made in the article. Organisations such as Snopes, FactCheck.org, and others can help you determine the accuracy of information.

12. Transparency and corrections:

Check if the news outlet is transparent about its editorial process and corrections. Reputable sources acknowledge and correct errors promptly. They have contact information clearly available and will say if they are part of oversight bodies to keep the quality of their work in check.

13. Ad placement:

Be cautious if the article is surrounded by excessive ads or if the ads themselves seem suspicious. Reliable news sources typically maintain a professional and unobtrusive ad presence. But bots are used to generate a lot of ads, which aren't able to discern what is legitimate and what isn't. Be attentive when using sites so that you don't click on something that will leave you with more spam than useful information.