Read a news story carefully before sharing it

Find the claim and the support

A headline is a useful pointer, but it cannot carry all the qualifications in a full story. Read beyond the headline and identify the main claim in your own words. Then look for the details that support it: named documents, direct observations, attributed statements, data, or an explanation of how information was gathered. Notice whether the article distinguishes what is known from what remains uncertain. If a story links to a source, open the link and check whether it supports the specific sentence attached to it. A citation can be real yet still be used too broadly.

For example, imagine a local report says that a public library extended its evening hours after a trial period. You could write down the claim, then look for the cited library announcement or meeting record and check the dates and conditions. If the report says “some visitors asked for later hours,” that does not by itself show that every visitor wanted the change. Your notes can separate the confirmed schedule, the attributed requests, and any open question about how many people use the new hours. This practice helps you avoid repeating a stronger conclusion than the article actually supports.

Pause when a detail is missing

When a story leaves out context, record the gap instead of filling it with a guess. Ask what information would help answer your question and whether the article explains how to find it. A missing answer does not automatically make a report false; it means your conclusion should remain limited. Before sharing, consider whether your summary preserves the article’s uncertainty and whether the link leads to the same material you read. Waiting to verify one important detail is a practical reading choice, not a verdict about the people involved.

1. Write the story’s main claim in one sentence without copying the headline.
2. Underline or note the evidence the story provides and the source for each important detail.
3. Mark one unanswered question and avoid answering it with an assumption.
4. If you share the story, summarize only what its evidence supports and include the original link.