Who confirmed it?
Was the source named?
Where was it confirmed?
Was there a press conference, official statement, court filing, or verified report?
When was it confirmed?
Is the claim actually new, or is an old event being presented as breaking news?
What exactly was confirmed?
Does the article provide a complete explanation?
Can another reliable source verify it?
If these questions cannot be answered, the claim deserves skepticism.
Beware of Old News Presented as New
Another common tactic is recycling an old event with a new timestamp.
A genuine photograph from months ago may be posted alongside the words “JUST NOW.”
An old police statement may be repackaged as breaking news.
A previous public appearance may be described as a new development.
This is especially effective in long-running investigations because many readers have forgotten earlier details.
Whenever a story claims to be only minutes old, check the publication date and the original source.
