O que é ser crítico Respondendo à inquietação manifestada por muitos editores, de que gostariam de ter jornalistas mais críticos, Jill Geisler, do Poynter.org , propõe uma definição: "The intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action" e enuncia as seguintes competências dela decorrentes:

• Thinking independently
• Exercising fairmindedness
• Exploring thoughts underlying feelings and feelings underlying thoughts
• Refining generalizations and avoiding simplifications
• Clarifying issues, conclusions, or beliefs
• Clarifying and analyzing the meanings of words and phrases
• Developing criteria for evaluation; clarifying values and standards
• Evaluating the credibility of sources of information
• Analyzing or evaluating arguments, interpretations, beliefs or theories
• Generating or assessing solutions
• Reading critically
• Listening critically
• Examining or evaluating assumptions
• Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant facts
• Making plausible inferences, predictions or interpretations.