All sources and source materials have inherent tendencies; no source is completely neutral. Sources have interests, agendas, or biases that can shape the source material. Sources also exist in specific cultural and social contexts, which could mean that the source material is affected by the perspectives and worldviews of those contexts. Therefore, the key question isn’t whether a source has a tendency but rather what that tendency is. 

Identifying tendencies is a subjective process, as there is no universal method to pinpoint all potential tendencies of a source. However, by examining the connection between the source and its material—considering factors like the source’s identity, professional responsibilities, cultural and social affiliation, and financial, ideological, or political interests—we can understand why the material was created. In digital source criticism, the goal isn’t simply to label the material as true or false but to evaluate how tendencies affect the source material.

Here are some questions one might ask to examine sources’ or source material’s tendencies:

• Who or what is the source of the information?
• Is the source authentic?
• Why has the source produced this material?
• What is the relationship between the source and the topic of inquiry?
• What interests or agendas does the source serve?
• Does the source have a direct interest in the media coverage of the topic?
• What is the power position of the source in society, especially in relation to the subject matter?
• Is the source an ordinary citizen, official, or institution?
• What are the professional, political, and economic backgrounds of the source?
• How do cultural, social, and technological contexts shape the message?

The image is generated by SCAM using Midjourney