When performing the CRAP test on Howard Rheingold's article, "Crap Detection 101," it appears to score fairly well overall.
Currency:
The article itself was posted just last year, June 30, 2009, to be more specific. In terms of currency, this would be considered fairly acceptable to the average online news-goer; however, its lack of updated information is apparent, especially with the specific examples such as the Iranian politcal demonstrations of June 2009. Yes, at the time this would be considered up-to-date, but now almost a year later, it is lacking in the area of currency. The website in which the article is published has remained up-to-date, indicated by the Copyright 2010 at the bottom of the page. The topic Rheingold presents has become somewhat of a timeless topic in today's evolving "digital age," where individuals often turn to the Internet as a source for information.
Reliability:
The article is focused on self-help information. In other words, it allows indivduals to use many untapped resources to protect themselves against unreliable sources on the Web. His opinion is offered, but it does not appear as a primarily opinionated piece. He uses facts and sources to support a truth: that people should question the reliability of their sources. Not all sources on the Web are reliable! It may seem one-sided in this point--that all sources need to be questioned--but, all in all, it remains fairly balanced in regards to the topic.
Authority:
The author, Howard Rheingold, is clearly indicated at the top of the article (so, bonus points for that!). Rheingold has also been in the business of the "digital world" for a long time, with an impressive number of univeristy lectures and books under his belt. I'm guessing he knows what he's talking about. The article appears to be self-published, and yes there are advertisements on the page where the article is featured. However, I don't think this takes away from the overall message behind his article.
Purpose/Point of View:
As mentioned above, this article does reveal some personal opinion, but I still believe it is based more so on a truth: not all Internet sources are reliable! People should read critically, and always question the credibility of their sources. It is harmful to always believe what you read at face value. In my opinion, the article seems fairly balanced as well, with lots of sources to back-up his examples. I don't think the author is trying to sell the audience anything. He is acting as an advisor, urging users to protect themselves from unreliable sources. He is promoting a lot of online tools, but not in a way that might dupe the user in the end; he is citing them for the users benefit!
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