Identify the source of the material you are reading, such as the name of the newspaper, title of the journal or associated supporters of the material. Review any potential biases the source may have, supporting or opposing the topic you are reading. Remember, a biased source does not guarantee that the material is biased, but it is a factor you should consider as an objective reader.
Investigate the author of the piece, identifying articles she wrote in the past on the topic, studying her education and determining whether her employment status may bias her approach to the topic by looking into her employer and considering its relation to the topic. Note that an author who regularly writes about a topic may signify expertise and not a bias, but it is a factor you should note.
Analyze the material in the article by dividing each statement as either a statement of fact or an authorial assessment of a fact. Identify factual statements by their references, understanding that statements of fact should be supported by either accepted truth, recorded fact or the direct result of a study. Identify assessments by noting whether a statement expands on a factual statement, providing an opinionated perception of the statement.
Note the important facts and statements within a piece by marking each passage that appeals to you or provides an argument which sounds convincing to you. Using these statements as your foundation, research the topic yourself to determine if each argument is fully supported and factual. If the work has reference information, read through the references to find additional information you can use to verify or expand your understanding of the topic.
Once you finish reading the piece, consider the information you collected regarding the source of the material, identity of the author and the arguments in the piece. Decide for yourself if the information was well supported and accurately addressed the topic.