Verifying Information

How do you know if you can trust information?

On the web
- Who hosts the site?
- It is a personal page or an official one?
- What is the host's agenda?
- What is the author's agenda?
- Who links to the site?
Other sources of information, like research papers and media reports
- Who quotes them?
  - Check citation indices
  - Look for other sources
  - But be wary of multiple reports all stemming from the same source
General Rules for information verification:
- Who said it?
- What is their motivation?
- Who else says it?
- Who else quotes it?
- No guarantees!