by Hailey O’Connor, NewsGuard, US.
NewsGuard, founded in 2018, has become the global leader in information reliability and a trusted information integrity expert. NewsGuard is also a signatory to the Code of Conduct on Disinformation and a member of IDMO, the Italian Digital Media Observatory and Italy’s hub of EDMO.
Our global staff of information reliability analysts has collected, updated, and deployed more than 7 million data points on more than 35,000 news and information sources, cataloging and tracking all the top false claims spreading online. These data are deployed to fine-tune and provide guardrails for generative AI models, provide media literacy guidance for individuals, and support democratic governments in countering hostile disinformation operations targeting their citizens.
As hyper-realistic generative AI tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Nano Banana Pro erode trust in video and images, NewsGuard plays defense against falsehoods online and across social media. Our recent investigations — from AI-generated hurricane deepfakes to election-meddling propaganda to Russian disinformation networks infecting LLMs — serve as a primary, expert source for newsrooms, tech companies, and governing bodies around the world.
Here are a few ways we’re scaling resilience in media literacy:
NewsGuard’s Browser Extension
NewsGuard provides media literacy resources that help guide learners of all ages through the ever-changing landscape of online news and information. Free for public libraries, NewsGuard’s browser extension is used by more than 800 libraries globally, and educators worldwide consult the extension and other educational resources to help students develop source evaluation skills.
Icons next to links show each site’s credibility score at a glance. Hover over the icon for a quick summary, or click to view a detailed review and “Nutrition Label” explaining the site’s ownership, content, and reliability. Millions of news articles are shared online every day, and it can be difficult to assess the credibility of their sources — the browser extension is designed to make that easier, helping you make smarter decisions about what to read, trust, and share.
Example of NewsGuard’s Browser Extension
NewsGuard’s Reality Check
Reality Check is a free newsletter that dives beneath your news feed to explore how false claims spread online, and uncover the forces that shape online narratives. Published daily, we regularly break unique, important stories related to tech, media, and false claims — from exposing malign actors impersonating local newspapers to debunking Taylor Swift deepfakes.
At the beginning of 2024, NewsGuard recognized that the need for reliable information was more important than ever, as the prevalence of misinformation, disinformation, and unreliable content continued to undermine trust. Reality Check launched as a way to provide accessible, fact-based insights to now over 60,000 subscribers.
Reality Check, NewsGuard’s newsletter
NewsGuard Academy
To bolster media literacy amongst an increasingly foggy information landscape, NewsGuard launched NewsGuard Academy — a free, public-facing media literacy initiative designed to equip users with practical skills to identify hoaxes, manipulated media, and other forms of false claims spreading online.
NewsGuard Academy includes a video series offering step-by-step expert guidance on how to spot and debunk falsehoods online. Each short tutorial breaks down real-life examples of deepfakes, false narratives, and viral hoaxes and explains the tools and methods NewsGuard’s analysts use to debunk them. With topics such as “How to Spot a Sora AI Video” and “How to Detect Phony Claims about Campaign Donations,” NewsGuard Academy applies analyst expertise to generate practical insights for readers of all skill levels.
We’re open to bringing our tools and materials broadly to teachers and students. Contact us at partnerships@newsguardtech.com and learn more and explore our tools at newsguardtech.com.
Hailey O’Connor is the Director of Marketing for NewsGuard. Previously, O’Connor worked as a corporate communications intern at KPMG and Bowen Craggs, as well as a communications associate for Yale Ventures. She graduated from Yale University with a BA in English, focusing on creative writing and journalism, and served as the head copy editor for the Yale Daily News.
