Searching the Web Key Takeaways

1. Not all news sources are created equally.

Mainline news outlets aim for objectivity, while non‑mainline sources often mix news with opinion or leave out key facts. Understanding this helps you choose news sources that match the needs of your research.

2. Different web tools serve different research purposes.

Search engines, specialized search tools, metasearch engines, and news databases each serve unique roles. Knowing when to use which tool, such as Google Scholar for citations or WorldCat for books, makes your searching faster, smarter, and more effective.

3. Online information must be evaluated carefully.

The web contains credible information but also misinformation, bias, and incomplete data. GenAI tools can even generate incorrect or made‑up details (hallucinations), so you must verify claims through lateral reading and use AI responsibly and ethically in academic work.