If you are suspicious about information you may want to "google" the author or the organization sponsoring the page.
If you really want to play detective look up the registration information use a Whois.
Who Is? http://whois.domaintools.com/
The Whois sites let you see who has registered the domain on the Internet. Ownership information is not always informative but occassionally it can be very interesting to find out the name of a company or person that owns a particular website.
Also Useful
Snopes http://snopes.com to track down facts versus rumors & urban legends.
Alternative Search Engines
DuckDuckGo http://duckduckgo.com The less cluttered website that doesn't share your information; emphasis on privacy.
Which is the REAL World Trade Organization? Below are some interesting websites to evaluate.
1. Authority
Is the author or organization responsible for the page clearly identified? Are the author's credentials on the subject stated?
Look For: About us, Contact us or Google the sponsoring organization to see if they are repudible. Read the Mission statement
This is where Wikipedia falls short
Good news .gov and .mil sites are considered relaible.
When using .edu sites one must consider if the author is a qualified professional with credentials in the field or a student.
2. Accuracy
Can unique information be verified in other sources?
Think especially of Wikipedia information
Were established research standards used?
"Studies show...." is not acceptable without specific sources or studies cited.
3. Objectivity
Are there advertisements on the site? Do the advertisements have a direct relationship to the content of the site?
One example is drugs or vitamins for sale or advertised on a health related web site
Check Dr. Weil http://www.drweil.com/ Register and take the Wellness test and you will find ads for vitamins in your e-mail.
Melatonin http://www.melatonin.com/ is not a source for serious studies of the drugs effectivenss.
4. Is the purpose of the page or site to promote a particular viewpoint?
Is information withheld? An .org (organization) may be formed only to advocate a particular viewpoint by using facts selectively.
Check the purpose of the organization providing the web page.
For example:FAIR http://www.fairus.org/ Read the mission or about us statement. If you check About FAIR you will find that the organization has adopted a very specific position and is not likely to present both sides of the immigration issue.
Are value statements made in absolutes (best, worst, 100%, etc.)?