In today’s climate, it can often be difficult to find reliable news sources. Recently, there has been a lot of fake or biased information circulating on social media—even on previously trusted news sites. I have found that getting accurate information about antisemitism and the current state of Israel have become especially challenging since Oct. 7. While trying to stay informed, I have come across many overwhelming videos and articles—some of which made me stop searching the news altogether. With so much misinformation out there, it can feel nearly impossible to find reliable facts. In talking with my community, I am understanding that this is a situation many Jews around the world can relate to, so to help with that, here are a few tips and tricks to help you determine whether a new source is trustworthy and/or unbiased. 

First, let’s start with the basics. Are you finding your news on a platform like TikTok, or from a journalistic source like The New York Times? Being mindful of where your information comes from—and who is sharing it—is incredibly important. If you are looking for neutral perspectives on the Israel/Hamas war, try not to avoid sites that are clearly biased toward one side, such as Al Jazeera or The Jerusalem Post. While they may be reporting true information, their writing tends to reflect a strong bias that favors their respective perspectives. 

If you are reading an article from The New York Times or another news source and are unsure whether it is biased, try looking into the journalist who wrote it. That person may have published other articles on the Israel/Hamas war, and by reading those, you may get a sense of whether they report in a balanced way.  If you are still uncertain, you can search online—or even ask ChatGPT—whether the source is considered unbiased. For example, I asked Chat GPT if The New York Times is an unbiased source on the Israel/Hamas war, and it responded: “The New York Times is generally respected for its fact-checking and professionalism, but it does bring particular frames and priorities to its Israel/Hamas war reporting.” ChatGPT isn’t perfect, but it can be a useful tool to help evaluate whether a source is trustworthy.  

In 2025, truly unbiased journalism is hard to come by. One good way to form your own opinion while staying informed is to check multiple news sources with different perspectives. By comparing facts across outlets, you can learn about the war from various angles. You might also ask someone close to you if they know of a reliable source—they may be able to guide you to something they trust.  

Another great resource to use to ensure your news is reliable is RumorGuard. RumorGuard was created by the News Literacy Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people identify misinformation. RumorGuard uses five key factors to help determine whether something is false or misleading. These five factors are authenticity, source, evidence, context and reasoning. Hopefully by using this or one of the other tricks listed above, you will be able to stay informed and safe on the internet! 

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