Oftentimes, public relations professionals assist with the creation of content. This may be in the form of writing or editing op-eds, articles, blog post or speeches. This content may have varying purposes, but it is important that claims we make are trustworthy and credible. It is equally important to realize that everyday we are vigorously assailed by sources, claims or information of varying reliability.
So how does one go about finding reliable sources?
I thought it might be helpful to look at some of Wikipedia’s guidelines. While Wikipedia itself states it’s not a reliable source, because it can be edited by anyone at any time – meaning entries can be wrong, a work in progress or a subject of vandalism – the free encyclopedia offers insight into how to identify reliable sources that may be valuable.
A couple of the points that jumped out at me:
- A source refers to the work itself: a book, an article, a video, etc.; the creator (the author, journalist, scholar, business leader, etc.); and the publisher of the work (Random House, the New York Times, or someone else). When evaluating a source, it is important to consider all three of these because they all impact reliability.
- There is a spectrum of reliability. Sources may be highly reliable, highly unreliable or somewhere in between. When creating content, it is vital that people think critically as they draw conclusions about whether a source is reliable or not.
- In addition, proper sourcing depends on context. There is a lot to unpack here. For instance, is the source you want to cite appropriate for content that is being created? What is the age of the source? In scientific writing, an older source may be a liability as there may be newer research or theories that would be better suited. But conversely, when you’re writing about historical events, older sources may provide better context, background or information.
Finally, I’d like to touch on some types of sources that content creators can consider.
- Scholarly material. This might include academic and peer-reviewed publications, journals, textbooks or dissertations. Keep in mind, however, these can become outdated or reflect the biases and values of their authors. (For more on objectivity, I recommend reading, “Thinking like a psychological scientist” by Erin I. Smith.)
- News organizations. Consider the reputability of the organization and as you evaluate articles or coverage examine them closely. Is the reporting an opinion, human interest or news? Does the news contain factually verifiable information?
- Commercial content, sponsored content or user-generated content. Wikipedia considers these to be questionable sources because they often have a poor reputation for fact checking or lack editorial oversight. If you use information from these sites, do so carefully and cite appropriately.
I hope you’ll keep these tips in mind the next time you’re creating your next article, speech or blog.