A headline is the beginning of a story, not the evidence behind it. A short source-checking routine helps readers understand what has actually been established and what remains uncertain.
A useful news website makes clear whether a piece reports events, explains their context or argues for a position. Readers can use those labels as a starting point while still examining the evidence.
News changes as new evidence becomes available. Learning to read a publication’s correction and update notes makes it easier to understand which version of a story you are looking at.