What is the best resource to use?
It's a trick question! The answer depends upon numerous factors--such as the topic, the author, your goals, and the audience. The right resource for any given purpose could be an academic journal article, the local paper, a business website, or even a personal blog.
In all of these cases, it's important to know how to evaluate them for credibility.
Use this checklist to determine if a source is appropriate:
Authority: Who wrote it? What credentials does s/he have? [PhD, affiliation with university]
Source: Where was it published? How was it selected for publication? [look at submission guidelines for evidence of peer review or other editorial processes]
Currency: When was it published? Has it appeared in other forms with/out revision?
Research: Are other sources cited in a bibliography/reference list? Are foot/endnotes used?
Bias: Is there an objective viewpoint? Is the author making assertions without documentation, or with questionable documentation? [e.g., her/his own work, crackpots]