Just as you have learned that some publishers and authors are more reliable than others, the same is true on the Web. Government sources and nationally recognized and respected organizations tend to be the most reliable. If someone at AOL tells me a comet will strike the Earth within the month, I'm not going to quit my job. If NASA says it, I'm out of here. Evaluate the author's qualifications.
Good design reflects care and professionalism.
If you pick up a book and discover several spelling errors, sloppy layout or sensationalism, you would most likely question its credibility. The same is true of Web sites. References Alexander, J and Tate, M. 1998. Harris, R. 1997. Evaluating Internet research sources.