Black Lives Matter. The SVA Library created this guide to support information-seeking following the international antiracism & anti-police brutality protests that occurred after the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN. This is a living document, which means we will continue to edit this guide over time and as resources change. Although we will be monitoring these resources, as with all information, use your critical thinking skills to determine the relevance, accuracy, and authority of each resource. Many of the websites linked to from this guide are also living documents, and may change if their owners edit them. For more on the topic of Black Feminism, check out our Black Feminism resource guide.
It is important to think critically about the information you come across every day, and especially in times like these when information is being created, published / posted, and changed quickly as we all try to keep up with currently developing events. Here are some tips you can use for evaluating the accuracy of information:
This poster was created by the International Federation of Library Associations and is available to download from their site in over 50 different languages:
Poster Text Reads:
How to Spot Fake News
Consider the Source: Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.
Read Beyond: Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story?
Check the Author: Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real?
Supporting Sources?: Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story.
Check the Date: Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant current events.
Is it a Joke?: If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.
Check Your Biases: Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement.
Ask the Experts: Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site.