Media Bias Ratings Why These Matter In Today S News Landscape

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 6, 2025, 7:03 PM

media bias ratings why these matter in today s news landscape

The News Media Tracker shows data on Americans’ awareness of, use of and trust in 30 different major news sources. It’s based on a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults conducted in March 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to info@pewresearch.org. As the news media landscape continues to evolve, Americans’ news habits are changing. This tool is meant to be a digital product that provides the public with up-to-date, easily accessible key information about what news sources Americans turn to and trust.

In the News Media Tracker, we take a snapshot of the news sources people have heard of, use and trust for news. We examine responses based on age and party identification to map out what the media ecosystem looks like for each of these groups. We limited ourselves to 30 news sources in this survey to avoid placing undue burden on survey respondents, who may have trouble processing an even longer list. We used a variety of criteria to make difficult decisions about which sources to include among the 30. Knowing that no list of 30 sources could represent the entire media landscape, we included many prominent news sources, while also aiming to capture the diversity of the media environment and sources in emerging... To this end, we took into consideration things like web traffic, TV ratings and the results of previous surveys, including open-ended questions asking about political and election news in September 2024, news influencers in...

Relatedly, we wanted to capture different elements of the information environment, such as legacy news outlets and newer, nontraditional news sources. The Media Bias Chart at Biasly offers a rating of various news agencies. Biasly is an independent news and bias rating agency and is dedicated to Fighting Fear with Facts. How it Works Government/Non-Profit/Education News Chart Biasly’s Media Bias Chart is an interactive, two-dimensional visual tool that maps hundreds of news sources based on their political bias (x-axis) and reliability (y-axis).

What sets the chart apart is its AI-powered Bias Meter, which combines machine learning with human analyst input to generate objective bias and reliability scores for each outlet. It enables users to quickly see where a source falls on the political spectrum — from Very Left to Very Right — while also evaluating the overall trustworthiness of its reporting. Biasly rates news sources using a methodology that blends artificial intelligence with human analyst review. Each article is scanned for linguistic markers like word choice, tone, framing, headline structure, and source selection — all of which may indicate political leanings. These are then analyzed using Biasly’s proprietary algorithms to assign a bias score and reliability score. Analysts further validate AI assessments by checking for factual accuracy, source credibility, and patterns in story selection or omission.

This combined process ensures the bias ratings are not only data-driven but also contextually sound. Absolutely. Educators frequently use Biasly’s Media Bias Chart as a powerful visual aid to better understand and explain the complex landscape of media bias. It’s an ideal tool for integrating into media literacy curricula, helping students grasp how political leanings and framing influence news coverage. To support classroom and newsroom use, Biasly also offers a downloadable and printable version of the Media Bias Chart, which educators can display during lessons or distribute in workshops. In addition, Biasly’s Media Literacy Education Platform offers structured courses and resources for both students and professionals to deepen their understanding of bias and media literacy.

The data presented below reflects Media Bias/Fact Check’s (MBFC) longstanding commitment to objectively rating media sources based on factual reporting and political bias. All evaluations are conducted using a consistent and structured methodology developed to reduce subjective influence. The numbers in the table represent live totals that evolve as new sources are added or re-evaluated, but the principles behind those ratings remain constant. MBFC uses a composite scoring system that rates each source on a scale from −10 (Extreme Left) to +10 (Extreme Right). This score is derived from four weighted categories: Economic Policy (35%), Social Values (35%), Straight News Balance (15%), and Editorial Bias (15%). The intent is to assess the ideological character of the content, not the publisher’s intent or ownership.

Scores are based on actual content and sourcing, not affiliation. A left or right-leaning outlet is rated as such only when its output consistently reflects those leanings. Factual reporting is rated using a weighted formula based on four criteria: The average bias rating of +1.12 reflects a volume effect, not methodological bias. Several interconnected factors contribute to this outcome: The media misrepresented President Trump’s call for Members of Congress to be held accountable for inciting sedition by saying that he called for their “execution.”

The Democrats and Fake News Media subversively implied that President Trump had issued illegal orders to service members. Every order President Trump has issued has been lawful. It is dangerous for sitting Members of Congress to incite insubordination in the United States’ military, and President Trump called for them to be held accountable. • Democrats released a video calling for service members to disobey their chain of command, and in turn, implied President Trump had issued illegal orders.• President Trump has never issued an illegal order. The Fake News knew that, but ran with the story anyway. • Video of Democrat Officials Calling for Sedition• Trump accuses Democrats who urged military to resist illegal orders of ‘seditious behavior,’ suggests execution• Trump calls for arrest of ‘seditious’ Democrats who told troops their...

A record of the media’s false and misleading storiesflagged by The White House. Scroll for the Truth. You rely on the media to stay informed, but what if the information you’re getting isn’t as neutral as it seems? Understanding media bias is essential because it affects how you see the world, make decisions, and interact with others. When you consume news, you're not just absorbing facts; you're also navigating the subtle (or sometimes blatant) ways news outlets frame stories. Recognizing bias helps us view information more objectively, reducing the impact of manipulation or misinformation.

By being aware of bias, we can think independently and evaluate news coverage with a critical eye. This awareness allows us to engage with various perspectives, fostering a well-rounded understanding of topics and issues. The AllSides Media Bias Chart is a valuable resource for uncovering bias in media. This tool brings clarity on where each media outlet stands on the political spectrum, helping readers understand potential biases in the news they consume. By displaying media sources across a spectrum from left to right, the chart helps pinpoint where an outlet might lean in its reporting. By providing a transparent view of bias, the chart makes it easier for audiences to consume news with a clearer perspective.

Each outlet's place is based on thousands of ratings, involving experts and input from a wide array of American voices with diverse political backgrounds. This inclusive method ensures that the ratings are balanced and take a broad landscape of opinions into account. Unlike algorithms that might favor certain perspectives due to their programming, this chart brings a human touch, relying on feedback from real people. By making the process of bias rating clear and accessible, it provides a trustworthy source for consumers seeking a comprehensive view of media bias and contributes to more informed engagement with news outlets. There is no completely clear answer to this question because there is no one exact methodology to measure and rate the partisan bias of news sources. Here are a couple of resources that can help:

The more detailed report, The Political Gap in Americans' News Sources, examines news usage by political party. "In many cases, supporters of the two main U.S. political parties are relying largely on different sources of news and information." In general, Republicans have lower levels of trust in national news organizations than Democrats, with those levels steadily declining since 2016. However, Republicans' trust in national news organizations and social media sites has increased somewhat since 2024. Here are a few examples of major news sources and their so-called "bias" based on ratings from AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check (as of July 2025) and the reported level of trust from partisan... Note that much of these ratings are based on surveys of personal perceptions.

Consider that these may be impacted by the hostile media effect, wherein "partisans perceive media coverage as unfairly biased against their side" (source: Perloff, R. M. (2015). A three-decade retrospective on the hostile media effect. Mass Communication and Society, 18(6), 701-729. (U-M Library access)).

Media Bias Ratings Why These Matter In Today S News Landscape

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The News Media Tracker Shows Data On Americans’ Awareness Of,

In The News Media Tracker, We Take A Snapshot Of

Relatedly, We Wanted To Capture Different Elements Of The Information

What Sets The Chart Apart Is Its AI-powered Bias Meter,

This Combined Process Ensures The Bias Ratings Are Not Only