How can a rater differentiate between high and low quality in a news article?

The ability to differentiate between high and low-quality news articles primarily hinges on critically analyzing several key factors such as the reliability of sources, the accuracy of the information presented, and the adherence to journalistic standards.

High-quality articles typically cite credible and diverse sources, providing a solid foundation for their claims and ensuring that information is not just opinion-based but factually backed. Furthermore, accuracy in reporting means that the information is correct, verified, and free from misleading elements or errors. Adherence to established journalistic standards encapsulates ethical reporting practices, including fairness, balance, and the presentation of multiple viewpoints when relevant.

In contrast, assessing the quantity of articles published does not inherently indicate quality; a high volume could actually reflect repetitive or unoriginal content rather than insightful journalism. Similarly, considering the publication date alone does not inform quality—it focuses solely on recency, which can be misleading without considering the relevance and accuracy of the information. Lastly, the design of the website can influence user perception but is not a direct measure of the article's content quality. A well-designed site can host low-quality articles, while a less appealing one might feature high-quality content. Thus, the primary means of evaluation should focus on the aforementioned critical aspects of the article itself.