How to Find a Publisher on a Web Page
Many people believe that information published on the Internet is accurate and true. However, anyone can publish a website on the internet and state anything they like. This makes looking for valid information a challenge, especially when searching for academic information. Determining the publisher of a website is a good indicator of the type of information found there. Some websites use domain names that sound authentic, but a closer look can let you know if the publisher has an ulterior motive.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Look on the website for a name of an organization or company. This may be listed at the top or as part of a logo or trademark. Look for a "contact us" link and determine the organization's official mailing or telephone number.
-
2
Examine the page URL. This is located in the address bar following the "http://". The type of domain may give you a clue to the publisher. Domains with .edu are from a college or university. Domains containing .gov are a federal or local government website. Other domains such as .com, .net or .org can be personal or corporate websites.
-
-
3
Look up the owner of the website using a "whois" search. This is a tool that gives information about the person or organization that has registered the URL. Enter the URL into a website that provides whois information (see resources). Validate your request if prompted by typing a word or phrase into a box (this is to verify that you are a real person). Read the report and look for a parent organization or individual that registered the website.
-
4
Do further research on any parent organizations to determine what kind of information they provide. Many hate groups use another website appearing legitimate to promote their cause.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Some websites that are published on college or university websites are authored by students. Read the information carefully for bias and accuracy.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit HTTP image by YvesBonnet from Fotolia.com
