HDFS 3210: Websites

First identify what you're looking at, be it a personal blog, a public "ask us" site, a newspaper or blog article, a sales site, a government or non-profit website, an educational site, etc.

Then, ask yourself a few questions to evaluate the site. You can always ask a librarian or your instructor for more help!

Where is the website coming from or who is the author?
Look for clues like…

• an “About” or “More about the Author” link
• the domain name (.edu, .com, .mil, .gov, .org)

Does the website present a certain bias or specific opinion?
Look for clues like…

• links or references to other websites or sources that might be associated with specific biases
• the language being used

Can you tell when it was published?
Look for clues like…

• phrases that include the words “updated” or “published”
• specific dates

Who is the target audience for the website?
Look for clues like…

• references to specific organizations or groups of people
• advertisements that might be targeting specific groups

What happens when you Google the site name, organization name, or author/founder name?
Look for clues like...

• few results or limited details
• news coverage or controversy surrounding the site, organization, or author

Can you fact check the information on the website?

• Does the website cite its sources?
• Can you find the information elsewhere?
• If the website is reporting original content, can you tell how the authors got their information?