added badge instructions

README.md

@@ -1,20 +1,24 @@
-#OpenSources
-##Professionally curated lists of online sources, available free for public use.
+# OpenSources
 
-##Please contribute your own links and tags at [OpenSources.co](http://opensources.co).
+## Professionally curated lists of online sources, available free for public use.
 
-##Who we are:
+## Please contribute your own links and tags at [OpenSources.co](http://opensources.co).
+
+## If you use our data in any of your projects, please feel free to include our badge in your website/readme: [![OpenSources data](https://img.shields.io/badge/Data-OpenSources-blue.svg)](http://opensources.co)
+### Please have a look at [badges.txt](https://github.com/BigMcLargeHuge/opensources/blob/master/badges.txt) for the badge code.
+
+## Who we are:
 
 OpenSources is a curated resource for assessing online information sources, available for public use. Websites in this resource range from credible news sources to misleading and outright fake websites. Headed by Melissa Zimdars of Merrimack College, our research team is dedicated to preserving the integrity and enhancing the transparency of information on the internet.
 
 
-##Mission:
+## Mission:
 
 Our mission is to empower people to find reliable information online.
 
 To this end, we provide a continuously updated database of information sources for developers to leverage in the fight against fake, false, conspiratorial, and misleading news. Our database is maintained by professionals who have analyzed each source, looking for overall inaccuracy, extreme biases, lack of transparency, and other kinds of misinformation.
 
-##Our Methods:
+## Our Methods:
 
 Step 1: Title/Domain Analysis. If “.wordpress” “.com.co” appear in the title -- or any slight variation on a well known website-- this is usually a sign there is a problem.
 
@@ -30,6 +34,6 @@ Step 6: Social Media Analysis. Look up the website on Facebook. Do the headlines
 
 By considering all of these areas of information we can determine which category or categories a website may occupy, although all categorizations are by necessity open to discussion and revision. For more information about analyzing the credibility of sources, please see this resource.
 
-##Disclaimer:
+## Disclaimer:
 
 The information contained in this site is for informational and educational purposes only. We have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this site and in our downloadable data is reliable; however, we are not responsible for any errors, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this site is provided “as is” and “as available,” with no guarantee of accuracy, reliability, completeness, or of the services or results obtained from the use of this information. By using OpenSources, you expressly agree that the use of OpenSources and its data is at your sole risk.

badges.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+To add our badge to any .md markdown file, paste the following:
+
+[![OpenSources Data](https://img.shields.io/badge/Data-OpenSources-blue.svg)](http://opensources.co)
+
+To add our badge to an html file:
+
+<a href="http://opensources.co"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Data-OpenSources-blue.svg" alt="OpenSources Data" /></a>