Fake news is now part of our every-day vocabulary and it feels like it’s everywhere. So how do you know who to believe?

For a journalist, there’s no such thing as alternative facts – there’s either real news or fake news. Checking stories with trusted sources is a key part of a journalist’s job. Here, BBC newsreader Tina Daheley explains how she checks the facts when reporting on the latest news.

Tina's top five tips

Here’s how to decide whether a source should be trusted:

  1. The story – where did the story come from?
  2. The author – who is telling this story, and what do you know about them? They may have a reason for sharing or might have made mistakes. Journalists make sure they have at least two sources to verify a story
  3. Fact check – does all the evidence add up? See if there are any first-hand accounts and if the facts are repeated in other trusted sources
  4. Expert advice – is there another side to the story? Have a look at a range of different opinions and see who else is telling the story
  5. Images - is there video or are there pictures in the story? Check them using a reverse image search.

Where next?

Tips for spotting fake news online

Nihal Arthanayake looks at some simple steps which will help separate fact from fake.

Tips for spotting fake news online

Be social media smart: Is seeing believing?

BBC newsreader Tina Daheley looks at how to check what can and can’t be believed.

Be social media smart: Is seeing believing?

Fake news and BBC Young Reporter

As part of BBC Young Reporter, top journalists give you the lowdown on how to weigh up what’s real and what’s fake.

Fake news and BBC Young Reporter

Fact or Fake?

Find out how to spot and stop fake news with BBC Bitesize.

Fact or Fake?