How to identify misinformation in newspapers, books, and online sources

¶ … Credibility

IBM

The website is free of hidden sales pitches. Although there are products offered for sale on the website, they are clearly offered for sale. Furthermore, the website is a business website, which gives notice to the viewer that there will be items for sale and product promotions on the site.

Website credibility can be determined by a number of things, including: advertisements on the website, how the website markets products (are there hidden sales pitches), whether links on the website are to credible sources, the target audience of the website, and whether the website gives information about the sponsoring business (especially contact information).

The site does not appear to be a scam.

D.

The only advertisements on the website were for IBM products and services, which indicated two things to me: (1) the website did not rely on advertisers for financial support, and (2) the website would not provide information about services or products that a consumer could use in place of IBM services and products. This did not change my opinion that the website was not a scam because I did not expect a commercial website to explore its competitors' products.

E.

The purpose of the website is to give information on IBM products and services, sell IBM products and services, provide customer service to existing IBM customers, and provide general information about IBM.

F.

The IBM website provides generalized business information about IBM, including an IBM newsletter, an investor relations section, employment opportunities, and IBM research. Reading all of those sections gives a viewer a generalized idea about the company's history and its plans for the future.

G.

There are no external links on the website. Every "clickable" option keeps the user on the IBM website.

H.

There is nothing specifically geared towards children on the IBM website.

There were no sounds and nothing that I would characterize as a graphic. There were pictures of products and pictures as parts of the ads included on the website, but no moving graphics.

Red Cross

A.

The website is free of hidden sales pitches. It has a section to purchase Red Cross items, but one has to enter that section before any sales information appears.

B.

Website credibility can be determined by a number of things, including: advertisements on the website, how the website markets products (are there hidden sales pitches), whether links on the website are to credible sources, the target audience of the website, and whether the website gives information about the sponsoring business (especially contact information).

C.

The site does not appear to be a scam.

D.

There are not any advertisements on the site. However, sections of the site allow consumers to provide various forms of aid, which helps demonstrate that it is a charitable website.

E.

The purpose of the website is to provide information about the Red Cross, including how to contribute time and money to relief efforts, information about first aid, and information about blood drives and donating blood.