Website Evaluation: Real Life Examples

Librarians can preach about the importance of website evaluation, but does it "click" with the students?

If your students happen to follow current events and/or sports, using this example may spark some interest.

Yesterday, there was a fact checking fiasco in the social networking AND news world.

It all started when someone updated their Myspace page. This person stated that Orlando Thomas, former NFL (Vikings) player, had lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease.

From there, the word traveled to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The University felt that it was important to notify the Minnesota Vikings (his former NFL team).

The Vikings then posted information on their webpage about honoring the life of Orlando Thomas at the next home game.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune then published an article on the topic.

ESPN and Sports Illustrated followed with articles about Thomas' death.

Wikipedia was edited to list Orlando Thomas' date of death (October 28, 2009). *I saw it. It has since been corrected. I should have taken a screen shot.

Then, the same mess that began with Social Networking ended with Social Networking. A former NFL player, Jake Reed tweeted that Orlando was alive.

This tangled mess and failure to fact check and evaluate websites is horribly sad, but it a teachable moment to inform students about the risks of using inaccurate information from sources that lack authority. This really blurs the line between sources of News v. The National Enquirer or TMZ.

I used these PowerPoint slides today in a library instruction session for a Principles of Marketing class to show the importance of fact checking and evaluating websites.

News articles after corrections were made:
Star Tribune: Vikings' Website Report Citing Thomas' Death Was Incorrect

ESPN: Thomas Still Battling ALSRetweet this