Curious about politics? So are many other teens. It's great to be interested in the future makings of our country, but it's also a tough subject with tons of misinformation out there. I can't count the number of times that I've heard one of my friends or classmates state something about politics that seems true, only for me to do my own research and find nothing to back up their claim!
When it comes to politics or elections, it's difficult to discern whether a news source is trying to coerce or educate. Who can you trust when looking for information about a decision as big as the presidential election?
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1. Associated Press (AP) News
The AP is known for reporting the facts. It's in their motto: "In a world full of opinions, we let the facts speak for themselves". Articles from AP News will report the reality and let you decide what to think about it, rather than telling you what to believe. Also, The Associated Press often has live polling during big elections.
2. Reuters
Reuters regularly reports on international breaking news. They're one of the largest and oldest news sources, providing speedy and factual news to organizations, businesses, and consumers with minimal bias.
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Politics-Focused Sources
3. New York Times (NYTimes)
The New York Times is one of the most well-known newspapers and news sources in the world. Although the New York Times may be slightly left-leaning in its articles at times, it aims to keep its reporting accurate overall, providing fair information to readers, especially when it comes to politics.
4. The Washington Post
The Washington Post reports on all sorts of political events. This news source is primarily known for its reporting on the US Government, so you can trust that they have experience when it comes to all things politics and government!
5. BBC News
BBC News is among the most trusted news organizations by Americans, known for its generally unbiased reporting and comprehensive coverage. It's known to report through facts and analysis, making it one of the best sources for reliable and unbiased political updates.
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Elections & Special Coverage
6. C-SPAN
C-SPAN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to unfiltered coverage of the US Congress and public political events. They often have live streams that you can watch yourself- talk about reliability and impartiality!
7. Vote Smart
When it comes to real-life elections, Vote Smart provides unbiased information about election candidates directly. This includes education, experience, former committees, religious memberships, and more. It helps you build a context around not just what a particular candidate has done, but also who they are.
The Cook Political Report provides non-partisan political election and campaign analyses. These analyses provide information on trends and competitiveness ratings in relation to elections. They cover elections for the House, Senate, governors, and the Electoral College.
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The Importance of Fact-Checking
When it comes to news reports and articles, it's easy to assume that anything you read or hear about is accurate. However, on a topic like politics, especially, it's important to remember that bias in journalism can actually be extremely common and even unintentional. As kids, we were often told what to do and what to think.
Because of that, it's easy to forget that you're the only person who truly gets to decide what to believe. As we develop into functioning members of the real world, media literacy is becoming more and more important.
Remember to fact-check information before choosing to believe it. The best way to do this is by doing your own research and finding multiple sources to back up the facts you come across. It's also helpful to check the backgrounds of the authors of articles you read to see how reputable they are.
Make sure the authors cite their sources, and it's always good to see if those sources themselves are reliable. Never believe what you see online until you've fact-checked it, no matter how trustworthy it seems at first.
