The SIFT method, developed by Mike Caulfield at Washington State University Vancouver, is a process for quickly evaluating the news. These steps are applicable regardless of your sources.

Stop: Take a moment to think about both what you know about the news source. Does it have a strong reputation for accurate news? Is it an opinion piece rather than a news article? Stopping and assessing can also prevent you from getting sucked into a spiral of fact checking every component of a story.
Investigate the Source: Identify who is publishing the media you’re consuming. Is it being published by a specific industry? Do they have a credible reputation? Looking at sites like Politifact or Snopes may be useful if it’s hard to determine. It may also be worth double checking the URL of the organization you think is publishing the news. Some misinformation sources will purposefully mimic real news sources, so it can be important to verify the website just in case.
Find Trusted Coverage: If you see a claim that you’re wondering is true or not, it may be more worthwhile to see if a news source you trust, like the Washington Post and the Oregonian, is covering the story. This can be particularly useful for claims put forward by trade organizations or non-governmental organizations.
Trace to the Original: Trace the claim back to the source if possible. Articles can remove details that help situate a story within a larger context. This can be particularly true when articles are reporting on scientific studies. Finding the original source can help you determine whether or not a story’s claims are accurate.

The SIFT approach aimed at putting information you consume into a wider context. Knowing whether or not it comes from a credible source, or if the original source has been debunked or misinterpreted will help you become a more responsible news consumer.

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