Reading beyond the headline and first paragraph can be very important.
Dates are important for news. Here are some things to look for:
This is perhaps the hardest part of being a smart consumer of news. We all like to read things that validate our own beliefs. However, our biases can keep us from taking a hard look at fake news when it confirms what we already think. Here are some strategies to try moving beyond our biases:
You don't have to agree with everything that you read, but sometimes making the best case you can for a perspective or argument that conflicts with your own beliefs and perceptions will help you make your own arguments better.
Chainsawsuit comic by Kris Straub, from Sept. 16, 2014