Resources for Media Literacy and Transparency in Journalism 

Achieving information sobriety in today’s media environment is challenging. Sensationalism sells, so networks, media companies, news editors, and journalists look for stories that bring in more traffic to their channels and sites. On top of that, since many of us consume media online, we’re fed content that is tailored to our search histories by algorithms. If we have biases or tendencies toward news that skews in a particular direction, we operate in an environment that aims to capitalize on those tendencies. 

In addition to the News Literacy Project, here are some resources that help us navigate biases and check facts.

• AdFontes Interactive Media Bias Chart
• AllSides Media Resources (Interactive bias and fact checking, community perspectives hub)
• PolitiFact provides quick fact checks and covers commonly circulated information.
• FactCheck.org provides a non-profit space for fact checking and reports on commonly shared misinformation and disinformation.

It is worth noting that FactCheck.org is the only nonprofit organization on the above list. It is important to distinguish between profit motivated business models for journalism, independent journalism, and nonprofit journalism. For-profit journalism ownership often influences editorial decisions in newsrooms. Especially since we are in an age of media consolidation and nationalization. These resources provide insight into who owns major news sources and outlets. 

Future Media Project is a Harvard University run database of media ownership and directory of non-profit news organizations. It provides a solid foundation for media ownership and transparency concerning profit.

The International Center for Journalism runs a grant-based program funded by the Scripps Foundation, Disarming Disinformation, that provides resources for identifying disinformation, who funds it, and how it circulates.

It can also be helpful to seek out independent and nonprofit journalism. 

ProPublica is one of the most trusted investigative journalism outlets in operation.

The Institute for Nonprofit News supports nonprofit news outlets and journalists to strengthen our news environment and highlight stories that might otherwise be unheard. 

Trustworthy Media is a non-profit organization that provides a database of nonprofit news organizations at the local, national, and international levels, as well as other resources and guides to nonprofit journalism.

Ithaca College hosts a curated list of independent news sources on its library page.

The Nieman Lab hosts a list of the top 25 independent news outlets and other journalism resources.