We highlight the websites and organisations purported to be reliable independent news sources. However, we are finding that going to just one source can prove unreliable and even biased depending on who is pulling the corporate or political strings. Including former Prime Ministers. Here’s how to look for reliable news
In today’s world, it can be difficult to know where to get reliable news. With so many different sources of information available, and political and social agendas seeping through an article’s angle, it’s important to be able to tell the difference between fact, fiction or unfounded theories.
Even the respected newspaper The New York Times has been caught in a quagmire of mixed on-the-ground reporting from other news sources and international intelligence agencies. In the past week, the newspaper has had to highlight the confusion over the source of an explosion in a Gaza City hospital killing civilians. With two explosions being recorded near the time of the blast, the source of the explosion is still in question. It is not clear who is responsible for the blast at the hospital and whether it was the intended target or even misfired by either Hamas in Palestine or the Israeli military forces.
When a former British Prime Minister starts a news channel for GB News saying he will provide his “untarnished” views on global matters, again, we will have to take things with a grain of salt.
No such thing as perfect news?
The New York Times example illustrates that there is no single source of “perfect news.” Every news organisation will have its own biases and limitations, especially in times of conflict and war. The key is to be aware of these biases and to get your news from a variety of different sources.
Social media news sources not backed up by a newspaper, publisher or independent organisation – while entertaining and a quick news fix – are unreliable, especially if dealing with health and financial matters. Also, as more and more newspapers are struggling for subscription revenues, other “free” players are coming onto the scene and even they can’t keep their readers loyal.
For example, traffic to X (formerly Twitter) plummeted by 600 million, from 6.4 billion to 5.8 billion visits in September, new figures show. The analysis by Venture Smarter reveals that X has now dropped to seventh place in U.S. rankings behind Instagram.
Further analysis reveals of the 176 countries that accessed Twitter in September, over four-fifths (83%) saw a decline in month-over-month traffic to the website.
Google data reveals global searches for Twitter have dropped since Elon Musk’s takeover in September 2022, down from 14 million monthly searches to 11 million a year later, the lowest since November 2018.
Elon Musk, X’s CEO, announced a plan to charge new users $1 per year to access the platform to combat fake bot accounts, currently being trialled in two countries.
“Since Musk took over, its popularity appears to be declining,” said a spokesperson at Venture Smarter.
The continues, “It is staggering to see traffic drop from hundreds of countries, and it could well be Twitter’s behind-the-scenes efforts to combat bots. However, as Musk has said recently, the 1$ charge may be the ‘only way to fight bots,’ it looks more likely that users are switching off from the platform.”
Where to find the most reliable news?
Look for established news organisations that report both sides of a story. Established news organisations have a reputation for accurate and unbiased reporting. They have teams of experienced journalists who work hard to verify their stories before publishing them. Some examples of established news organisations include:
- The Associated Press
- Reuters
- BBC News
- The Financial Times
- The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
- The New York Times
- The Washington Post
- Christian Science Monitor
- Pew Research
- NPR
- PBS NewsHour
- The Guardian
- Al Jazeera English
- The Globe and Mail (Canada)
- ABC News (Australia)
- The Hindu (India)
Be wary of social media. Social media can be a great way to stay informed about current events, but it’s important to be critical of the information you see there. Not everything you read on social media is accurate, and there are a lot of false news stories and misinformation circulating online. Be sure to fact-check any news stories you see on social media before sharing them. What you share online could impact your relations with clients and colleagues. Is it worth it?
Check the source. When you’re reading a news story, it’s important to check the source to make sure it’s from a reputable organisation. Look for a link to the original source material, and be wary of articles that don’t have any sources at all.
Read multiple perspectives. It’s important to get a well-rounded view of the news by reading from different sources with different perspectives. This will help you to better understand the different sides of an issue and form your own opinion.
Be sceptical. Don’t believe everything you read. Always be sceptical of any news story, and be sure to fact-check it before sharing it or believing it yourself. Go to a company or government website to verify the original press release.
Here are a few additional tips for finding reliable news:
- Look for non-profit news organisations. Non-profit news sources are less likely to be biased by corporate interests.
- Look for news organisations that have won awards for investigative journalism. This is a good indication that the site is producing high-quality journalism.
- Look for news organisations that have a transparent editorial policy. This will give you a better understanding of the news producer’s values and how it decides what to publish. For example, you could read about the same story in The Telegraph and The Independent but both will have their own spin based on the subject to appease their target reader audience.
Where to get reliable news in different countries:
- United States: The United States has a strong tradition of independent journalism. Yet in the last decade we have seen some news channels embrace one-sided political agendas. In addition to the established news organizations listed above, there are a number of other reliable US news sources, such as ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, and The Marshall Project.
- United Kingdom: The BBC is the most popular and trusted news organisation in the United Kingdom. Other reliable news sources include The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Independent.
- Canada: The CBC is the most trusted news organization in Canada. Other reliable news sources include Global News, CTV News, and the Toronto Star.
- Australia: The ABC is considered the most trusted news organisation in Australia. Other reliable news sources include The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Guardian Australia.
- India: The Hindu is the most trusted news organization in India. Other reliable news sources include The Indian Express, The Times of India, and Hindustan Times.
No matter where you live, it’s important to be critical of the news you consume and to get your news from a variety of different sources. We are human and will have our own personal agendas. When making big life decisions it is vital to get the facts straight and confirm them from more than one source.
🗞️Know a reliable news source that is not listed? Please share in the comments