Digital source criticism engages with the social world, recognizing that no source or source material exists in isolation. Sources have relations, both professionally and personally, that can create tendencies and affect the source material they produce. Every source material is connected to a broader context, relying on a network of secondary sources or reference materials to inform or analyze the situation it describes. This interconnectedness is especially evident in digital source materials, which often make these relationships explicit through technological features. 

For example, Hyperlinks can connect multiple stories within a single digital publication. Understanding these connections is crucial in identifying the source’s tendencies. Does the source rely solely on secondary sources that share its tendencies? Does it accurately cite other sources and make those connections clear? To uncover a source’s tendencies, journalists must critically examine the full range of relationships between the various sources and materials used—and those left out.

Here are some additional questions you might ask concerning the relations of sources and source material.

• What professional or personal relations might have affected the source when producing the source material?
• How does the source material fit within the broader information landscape of the topic?
• Does the source material reference specific facts, events, and actors or rely on generalizations?
• Are the connections and relations between various sources and source material clear?
• What direct connections to other sources and source material are visible (e.g., links, visual illustrations, references)?
• Are all hyperlinks functional, and do they lead to legitimate sources?
• Does the source accurately summarize and represent the content of linked or referenced materials?
• What indirect connections are evident through language, genre, or format?
• How have the creators of the source material set up these connections?
• What relationships exist between this material and other content from the same source?

The image is generated by SCAM using Midjourney