Are you “old school” and trust everything you read? Are you “new school” and mistrust everything you hear? Or do you find yourself avoiding news, literature, and the Internet because you don’t know what to trust? Like most of us, you are probably pulled in multiple directions. No one conveys a message without placing a part of his own personal perspective into the piece; it is an inevitable human factor in communication. However, there are simple strategies one can apply to print, audio/video, and online information that will determine its credibility, its trustworthiness. Give them a try.

Print Materials

Books

First, look for distinguished publishers. Nonfiction books published by reputable houses are more likely to have been checked for accuracy of content as well as reliability and expertise of author. Reputable established publishing companies employ editors, fact checkers, and professional artists. However, a number of self-publishing organizations have cropped up over the years. These institutions allow any author to pay to have a book published. The author does or pays for her own editing and artwork. And with the advent of digital POD (print-on-demand) technology, a vanity publisher can print as many books as the author can afford.

Check an author’s background, credentials, and reputation. Would you trust Dr. Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, Medical Intuitive or G. Francis, MD, Author of Why Die of Colon Cancer? to provide your yearly physical? Has the author previously published other medical books? Where did he attend medical school? Have you heard of him before? What do other medical authors say about him? Do they refer to him in the reference section of their books and journal articles?