Media Bias Chart
Media Bias Chart
The AllSides Media Bias Chart offers an easy way to identify political bias in the news so you can be better equipped to navigate our polarized media landscape. The AllSides Media Bias Chart is based on our full and growing list of nearly 600 media bias ratings (note: AllSides rates only online content, not TV or radio content). Our chart helps to free you from filter bubbles so you can consider multiple perspectives and see the full picture. Learn about the different types of media bias.
The AllSides Media Bias Chart is more comprehensive in its methodology than any other media bias chart on the Web. While other media bias charts show you only the subjective opinion of the one person who made it, our Media Bias Rating Methodology is based on multi-partisan, scientific analysis and transparent methodology.
Here's how the AllSides Media Bias Chart differs from other media bias charts on the web:
- Data is gathered from a multipartisan team — not just one biased individual. We have a patent on rating bias and use multiple methodologies, not a homogenous group or an algorithm.
- Our research spans years — we started rating media bias back in 2012.
- We give different bias ratings for the news and opinion sectionsfor key outlets, giving you a more accurate view.
- Transparent methodology: we tell you how we arrived at the bias rating of each outlet. Search for any media outlet here.
- We consider and review data and research conducted by third parties, like universities and other groups.
- Your opinion matters: we take into account hundreds of thousands of community votes on our ratings. We know that a mixed group of experts and non-experts will provide a more accurate result, so we solicit and consider opinions of average people.
- We don't rate accuracy or facts — just bias. Our ratings help readers to understand that certain perspectives may be missing if they read only one outlet, or outlets from only one side of the political spectrum.
Americans are more polarized than ever — if you’re like us, you see it in the news and on your social media feeds every day. Bias is natural, but hidden bias and fake news misleads and divides us. That’s why AllSides has rated the media bias of nearly 600 media outlets and writers. The AllSides Media Bias Chart shows the political bias of some of the most popular news outlets in America.
AllSides Media Bias Chart FAQ
1) Why Does the Bias of a Media Outlet Matter?
2) How Does AllSides Calculate Media Bias?
3) How Did AllSides Decide Which Media Outlets to Include on the Chart?
4) What Do the Bias Ratings Mean?
5) Does a Center Rating Mean Neutral and Unbiased?
6) Why Are Some Media Outlets On The Chart Twice?
7) Does AllSides Rate Which Outlets Are Most Factual or Accurate?
8) How Does Version 1.1 of the chart differ from Version 1.0?
9) Where Can I Learn More?
10) I Disagree With Your Media Bias Ratings. Where Can I Give You Feedback?
Why Does the Bias of a Media Outlet Matter?
The mission of AllSides is to free people from filter bubbles so they can better understand the world — and each other. Making media bias transparent helps us to achieve this, and improves our democracy long-term.
Media bias has contributed to making Americans more politically polarized than ever. When we can’t identify, understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, we can’t problem solve or compromise, and democracy suffers.
News media, social media, and search engines have become so biased and personalized that we are stuck in filter bubbles, where we’re only exposed to information and ideas we already agree with. We often end up hating the “The Other Side,” believing they’re wrong or evil.
At AllSides, we reduce the one-sided information flow by providing balanced news and nearly 600 media bias ratings. This can help us to better understand diverse perspectives and reduce hateful polarization in America. By making media bias transparent and consuming a balanced news diet, we can arm ourselves with a broader view — and decide the truth for ourselves.
How Does AllSides Calculate Media Bias?
Our media bias ratings are based on multi-partisan, scientific analysis. Our methodologies include blind surveys, editorial reviews, third party data, and community feedback. Visit our AllSides Media Bias Rating Methodology page to learn more.
How Did AllSides Decide Which Media Outlets to Include on the Chart?
We took into account whether the source was a top outlet in terms of traffic according to Pew Research Center, as well as whether or not it was featured on other media bias charts floating around the Web.
But popularity isn’t our only metric — we also include outlets that are good representations a certain perspective or ideology. For example, Jacobin magazine is included because it represents socialist thought, while Reason magazine is included because it represents libertarian thought.
What Do the Bias Ratings Mean?
These are subjective judgements made by people across the country. Learn our rough approximation for what the media bias ratings mean:
Does a Center Rating Mean Neutral and Unbiased?
A Center media bias rating does not always mean neutral, unbiased or reasonable, just as "far Left" and "far Right" do not always mean "extreme" or "unreasonable." A Center bias rating simply means the source or writer rated does not predictably show opinions favoring either end of the political spectrum — conservative or liberal. Sometimes, a media outlet with a Center rating misses important perspectives, leaving out valid arguments from the left or right.
While it may be easy to think that we should only consume media from Center outlets, AllSides believes Center is not necessarily the answer. By reading only Center outlets, we may still encounter bias and omission of important issues and perspectives. For this reason, it is important to consume a balanced news diet. Learn more about what an AllSides Media Bias Rating of Center rating means here.
You can think of our bias ratings as points of view, each providing pieces of the puzzle, so that we may have a more holistic view.
Why Are Some Media Outlets On The Chart Twice?
The AllSides Media Bias Chart differs from other media bias charts on the Web because we often make a distinction between the source’s news content and its Opinion/Editorial content. This is true for prominent and widely-read media outlets, such as the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times. The distinction helps readers to contextualize the differences in bias between news content and opinion page content.
For example, on this chart you will see The New York Times Opinion is rated as a Left media bias, while the New York Times (News Only) is rated Lean Left. Fox News Opinion content has a Right media bias, while Fox News (News Only) is Lean Right. And so on.
When rating an Opinion page, AllSides takes into account the outlet's editorial board and its individual opinion page writers. The editorial board’s bias is weighted, and affects the final bias rating by about 60%.
For example, the New York Times has a range of individual Opinion page writers, who have a range of biases. Yet The New York Times Editorial Board has a clear Left media bias. We take into account both the overall biases of the individual writers and the Editorial Board, and give the New York Times Opinion Page a final media bias rating of Left.
We also provide individual media bias ratings for each Opinion page writer. See how we did it for the New York Times Opinion page writers
here.
Does AllSides Rate Which Outlets Are Most Factual or Accurate?
AllSides does not rate outlets based on accuracy or factual claims — this is a bias chart, not a credibility chart. We disagree with the idea that the more extreme an outlet is, the less credible it necessarily is. There’s nothing wrong with having bias or an opinion — there is something wrong with ignoring the other side.
How Does Version 1.1 of the chart differ from Version 1.0?
Where Can I Learn More?
Visit the AllSides Media Bias Ratings page and search for any outlet for a full summation of our research and how we arrived at the rating.
Visit our company FAQ for more information about AllSides.
I Disagree With Your Media Bias Ratings. Where Can I Give You Feedback?
You can vote on whether or not you agree with our media bias ratings directly on our Media Bias Ratings page, or contact us.
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