I try to go to various sites within the countries in question and the also see if I can track reporting through AFP, Reuters etc. If I'm looking for general news about things like development projects, government appointments etc. then something like that is usually more straightforward for determining reliability. What I also find is that some of the news sites will carry historical pieces or opinion pieces about things in Africa and across into areas of Asia etc. that may give a view on a specific aspect to something that I had not thought about. I find value in this because it adds to my thinking on subjects and leads me to further research etc. to try and better inform myself.
Even the BBC can be skimpy on reporting about things in general or about conflicts. I think Reuters and AFP have been doing the most of anybody. But there is a strong segment of small sites and journalists trying to report on the conflicts but it is incredibly dangerous for them and many have died. There is also the issue of bias in reporting but I try to filter out the inflammatory words etc. because it does not serve to the "Who, What and Where" that I'm looking for. That's why when I read some initial reporting on Syrian Observer I didn't source it and comment because it was clear they were reporting a report of reports. Once I saw some corroboration in The Times of Israel that at least a certain incident had taken place, despite the details between the two reporting sites, I felt comfortable enough to include them both as source material.
I agree that finding good faith actors is not easy. I have said, and reiterated many times that the average person in the Middle East has been lied to, manipulated and screwed around for over 100 years by powers within their own ranks and by powers at large around the world. The last thing a Palestinian should believe is when a Western government says they are looking out for the interests of the people. The governments in the Middle East and around the world look out for their own interests and it has little to nothing to do with the general welfare of the average person. Power and control. The name of their game.
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