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Evaluating Online Sources

Learn how to evaluate whether a website and its contents are reliable.

Bias in the News

What is media bias?

Bias in the news, or media bias, is not the same thing as "fake news." Everyone has biases, including journalists and news outlets — and that's okay! 

However, some news outlets do a better job of balancing fact and opinion. While it's not possible to avoid all bias in your news, you can avoid outlets that exhibit extreme bias, and read news from different perspectives to round out your understanding of a topic or issue.

 

The charts below can help you get a sense of the political biases of major U.S. news outlets.

Media Bias Charts

This chart from AllSides Media displays the political leanings of major U.S. news outlets. Keep in mind that this chart does NOT measure accuracy of reporting, only political bias. 

AllSides Media Bias Chart

This chart shows both political leaning AND accuracy. News outlets that appear lower down on the chart are less reliable and may regularly publish misinformation, while news outlets higher up on the chart are more reliable and report mostly facts and/or well-researched analysis.

To look up specific news outlets or browse rankings more easily, use their interactive media chart:

Media Bias Chart from Ad Fontes Media

Websites for Checking Media Bias

News vs. Opinion

Just because an article is published in a newspaper doesn't mean the article is actually reporting news. Even the most reputable news outlets publish opinion articles alongside their news articles—and it can be difficult to tell the difference, especially online!

Here are some signs to look for that may indicate you're reading someone's opinion, not a factual news report:

Opinion vs. News

Infographic Description

Opinion Vs. News

Opinion pieces
  • Promote a single viewpoint
  • May use first person — "I" or "we"
  • More personal tone, including anecdotes
  • Labeled as: opinion, editorial, review or analysis
News articles
  • Present a variety of viewpoints
  • Don't advocate for any one viewpoint
  • Contain observable & verifiable facts
  • Typically written in third person — "they" or "them"
  • Attribute opinions to sources, using phrases such as "he said" or "she explained"

 

Source: Poynter