Sources

Using good, reliable sources is essential for building strong, credible arguments. In debate, research papers, or everyday conversations, trustworthy sources provide accurate, fact-based information that helps you avoid spreading misinformation. They also show your audience that you’ve done your homework and are prepared to engage thoughtfully. Reliable sources—like academic studies, reputable news outlets, and expert organizations—help support your claims with evidence rather than opinion. In a world full of biased or false information, learning to identify and use quality sources is a critical skill for both academic success and responsible citizenship. Simply put: better sources make better arguments.

The Wires

The Big 3 of Print Media

"Public" Broadcasting

For Statistics

Highly Reliable Sources

Fact Checking Websites

Bias In the Media

AllSides Media Bias Chart

How people see different news organizations

Pros of this chart:

1. Filters out sources that you wouldn't want to use in Debate
2. Gives you an idea of how a source is often viewed by the public (not always applicable in a Debate setting)

Cons of this chart:

1. Doesn't rate accuracy. In other words, something could be unbiased but has garbage information that is untrue.
2. It's based solely on vibes. It's just what people think about the news organizations, and not where they actually sit.
3. Because it's based on peoples' perspective, it, itself, has a bias. I would say that it skews conservative, based on where certain things sit on the chart. For example:
  - AP is one of the most reliable news agencies in the world. If they do have a bias, it would be slightly to the left. Slightly. But having AP on the far left, on the same plane as the Daily Beast and Jacobin is unequivocally ridiculous.
  - Due to its business centric focus, the Wall Street Journal leans slightly to the right, not be in the center

ad fontes Media Bias Chart

How reliable different news organizations are, and where they sit politically

Pros of this chart:

Has 2 axis- reliability and partisan bias. (what's shown below is just the organizations that fall within the "high reliability" section of the chart)
Has thousands of data points to come to the conclusions that it does.
Empirical data is used to establish placement on the chart, not vibes.

Cons of this chart:

While having a reliability axis is great in theory, it can quickly become controversial based on what is/isn't deemed "truth".
There's a lot of sources on it, and you need to filter it down to find specific resources.