Author Credibility
Just as for any other goods or services, a news consumer must consider the credentials of an information source. Is the author an expert in the area being discussed? Consider professional affiliations, academic and professional credentials, reputation (good, bad, or nonexistent), and prior publications.
References and Cited Sources
As with all research, it is important to consider the sources of information for news items. Just as in scholarly works, citing sources allows readers to verify information independently. The absence of sources may cast doubt on whether a news source is authentic.
Source: Media Shift 2016