My Vetting Methodology
This curriculum is designed for educators who want to teach digital media literacy with confidence. Every lesson is built on transparent, evidence-based practices. Below, I outline exactly how I vet sources and why you can trust the information presented here.
How I Vet Sources
- Use only reputable, nonpartisan fact-checkers and media bias tools (see below).
- Cross-reference claims with multiple independent sources.
- Check for clear financial incentives or conflicts of interest behind each source.
- Prioritize transparency: cite original reporting, not relying on summaries or social media.
- Assess for bias using tools like AllSides and Media Matters.
- Verify that sources are up-to-date and relevant to the lesson topic.
Sources Used in This Curriculum
- AllSides (media bias ratings, news cross-checks)
- Snopes (fact-checking viral claims)
- FactCheck.org (nonpartisan fact-checking)
- Media Matters (media analysis, bias detection)
- Iffy Quotient (University of Michigan) (platform health metric for misinformation)
- BBC: Engagement Baiting (analysis of engagement-driven content)
- Britannica's Real or AI Quiz (AI-generated vs. real content quiz)
- PNAS: Habitual Sharing of Misinformation (scientific study on misinformation sharing)
- NIH: Incentives in Social Media (research on social media incentives)
- University of Kansas: Social Networks & Polarization (study on profit motivation and polarization)