A Look at Snopes

Before this blog assignment, I have heard about Snopes in passing, but never used it or actually looked on the website. As a skeptic and somewhat cynical person, I do not trust everything that I see on the internet or even in print. This is especially true when friends post things on Facebook. Anything goes on the internet, and anyone could write or publish anything. Then, that could spread everywhere. Unfortunately, plenty of people are gullible and are used as tools to spread this false information around the internet. In general, bias is extremely difficult to completely avoid. A personal take or response on something can be avoided, but then it could be interpreted that your sources lean one way or another. The sources could be biased, although that should be avoided as well.

Focusing on Snopes itself, it seems to focus on a lot of "fact-checking" and news articles. They also feature the most popular urban legends, updated frequently. Their more recent news articles are about politics and celebrities that have recently passed. However, the fact-checking is the most popular part of the site. It is also the most updated, with several checks posted per day. Some of the ones that most interested me were the one about the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico meeting and supposedly not mixing, North Carolina no longer accepting $20 bills, and the story of a doctor and paramedic saving each other's lives.

Overall, it does not seem like, at least at first glance around Snopes, that it has blatantly obvious bias issues. I did not take a look too far back into the past, or really look in-depth at their sources though. They may have had issues in the past, or been less objective. This could be a good place for people to look for fact-checks, but I would not trust it as the exclusive, only source of important information.

The Sentinel

Regarding KSU’s Sentinel newspaper, I have read several of the print issues before.  The website is not much different. Both are well-organized and easy for readers to follow. There are several features that are helpful and stand out on the website. They have their own podcast, links to their other media sites, and even a spot for the current weather. Articles are divided into their own sections, such as News, Opinion, and Sports. My favorite areas of the website are the News, Opinion, and the Archives.

The Archives allow users to look at newspapers back to 2012. What is very noticeable, especially within the past year, is the consequences and results of the merger with SPSU. There were several articles about the Commons, parking, library renovations, and problems with transfers. More recently, the campus-carry bill has been a subject of several articles, as well as several campus events and featured clubs.

The Sentinel has a great mix of articles. It provides students with local, campus information, while not ignoring the nation or the world’s events. As a student with not much knowledge about campus events or clubs, this is one feature that is especially beneficial for new students. What I also like about the Sentinel is they do not skirt around tougher topics, such as mental health, sexual assault, alcohol, and politics.

Lastly, the Police Beat section can be both amusing and shocking at the same time. It is good to list this information for students, even if it is just a summary or the main events. Personally, with a father that works as a public safety officer at a university in Pennsylvania, it is fun to exchange stories about what goes on.