What is the first step in determining if a source is credible?

Evaluating any listed authors is a critical first step in determining a source's credibility because authorship informs readers about the expertise, qualifications, and potential biases of those behind the information. When you know the author’s credentials, background, and affiliations, you can better assess whether they possess the necessary knowledge and experience relevant to the topic at hand.

If the authors are recognized experts in their fields, this lends significant credibility to the source. For example, an article by a professor specializing in a particular area of history is likely to be more reliable than one authored by someone without relevant expertise. Understanding authorship helps in not only identifying potential biases — such as those arising from personal or organizational agendas — but also in contextualizing the information presented.

While the other steps, such as checking the date of publication, reading reviews, and assessing website design, are also valuable in the overall evaluation of credibility, they do not address the authority of the source as directly as analyzing the authors themselves does. Therefore, starting with the authors provides a foundational basis for further assessment of the source's reliability.