News Credibility Assessment Heuristics: An Integrative Analysis of Internal and External Verification Strategies

The digital era has drastically transformed how people consume and share news. This has led to an unprecedented spread of misinformation that is difficult for the public to identify. While research on journalistic and automated fact-checking is extensive, the ordinary internet users’ strategies remain underexplored. This study bridges the gap by investigating both internal (intrinsic cues) and external (extrinsic verification) fact-checking strategies through a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative cognitive interviews with 42 participants revealed an extensive list of intrinsic heuristics. A quantitative pilot survey of 150 respondents highlighted the prominence of extrinsic strategies. Results indicated the following: 76% of participants prioritize lateral reading, 57% verify information in trusted sources, 50% seek expert opinions, and only 21% consult with peers (this is less common). Qualitative analysis further uncovered a key finding. Intrinsic assessments often rely on subjective metadata cues and confirmation bias, sometimes leading to contradictory judgments. This research emphasized the need for a holistic understanding of fact-checking behaviors. It also laid the groundwork for further studies on the effectiveness of such behaviors in improving media literacy.