Source Ratings

FactCheck.org is a long-running nonpartisan fact-checking organization run by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. It is widely regarded as highly reliable, with a strong reputation for transparent sourcing, careful methodological explanations, and corrections when needed. Its content is focused on verifying claims rather than advancing an ideological viewpoint, so both its factual reporting and overall presentation are best characterized as centrist. It has little traditional opinion content, and what it does publish generally remains analytical rather than ideological.

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan U.S. research organization best known for public-opinion polling, demographic studies, and data-driven reports rather than traditional daily news coverage. It is widely respected for methodological transparency, clear sourcing, and a strong track record of producing careful, factual research, which makes it highly reliable. Its work is generally presented in a neutral, analytical tone with little ideological framing, and it does not operate as an opinion-driven outlet in the usual sense, so both its reporting and overall presentation rate as essentially centrist.

ProPublica is a nonprofit investigative newsroom known for deeply reported, document-based journalism and frequent collaborations with other major outlets. It has a strong reputation for accuracy, transparency, and accountability, with Pulitzer-winning work and a solid corrections process, making it highly reliable overall. Its factual reporting generally aims to be evidence-driven and nonpartisan, though story selection and framing often focus on corporate, government, and social harms in ways that can read as mildly left-leaning. Its opinion and interpretive work tends to lean a bit further left than its straight reporting, but not strongly so.

Bloomberg News is a major global financial and general-news organization with a strong reputation for factual, data-driven reporting, especially on business, markets, economics, and policy. It generally follows mainstream journalistic standards, maintains a robust newsroom, and is widely regarded as highly reliable, though like other large outlets it has had occasional corrections and controversies. Its straight news coverage is typically centrist and restrained in tone, while its opinion and editorial content tends to lean slightly left-of-center on social and governance issues, though not strongly ideological overall.

Financial Times is a major UK-based international business newspaper known for strong editorial standards, global economic coverage, and a long record of factual reporting. It is widely regarded as highly reliable, with transparent corrections practices and reporting that is generally rigorous and evidence-based. Its straight news coverage is usually close to centrist but can reflect a mild establishment or market-liberal tilt, especially on economics. Its opinion pages lean more center-right or pro-business than its news reporting, though they are typically argued in a serious, analytical style rather than a partisan one.

OpenSecrets is a nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog and research organization that tracks money in U.S. politics, including campaign finance, lobbying, and influence networks. It is widely used by journalists, researchers, and fact-checkers for its transparent sourcing, data-driven methodology, and strong reputation for accuracy, though it is more a database and explanatory research outlet than a traditional daily news publisher. Its factual reporting is generally neutral and evidence-based, while occasional framing around campaign-finance reform and transparency can read as slightly reform-oriented in analysis content rather than ideologically partisan.

PBS NewsHour is PBS’s flagship national news program and is widely regarded as one of the more careful, standards-driven outlets in U.S. television journalism. It has a strong reputation for factual accuracy, transparent corrections, and in-depth reporting, with assessments from media-bias monitors generally placing it near the center or slightly left of center. Its straight news coverage is typically close to neutral with a mild center-left tilt in story selection and framing, while interviews and analysis can lean a bit more liberal than its core reporting.

KFF Health News is a nonprofit health journalism outlet formerly known as Kaiser Health News, operated independently within KFF and focused on health policy, public health, and the U.S. healthcare system. It is widely regarded as a high-quality specialty news source with strong editorial standards, frequent use of documented sourcing, and a solid record of factual reporting, though its topic focus can produce framing that is somewhat more attentive to public-health and healthcare-access perspectives than market-oriented ones. Its straight news coverage is generally close to neutral with a slight left-of-center tilt, while any analysis or commentary tends to lean a bit more center-left.

SCOTUSblog is a specialized outlet covering the U.S. Supreme Court, widely respected by lawyers, academics, and journalists for detailed case analysis, prompt reporting on orders and opinions, and strong subject-matter expertise. Its reporting is generally careful, transparent, and highly accurate, though its niche legal focus means it is more explanatory than broad general-news reporting. Politically, its straight news and case coverage are best characterized as neutral, while occasional commentary and framing can show a very slight left-of-center tilt common in legal-analysis circles, but not strongly ideological.

The Economist is a long-established British weekly news and analysis magazine known for rigorous international coverage, strong editing standards, and a generally high level of factual accuracy. It is widely regarded as highly reliable, though like most publications it is not infallible and its house style often blends reporting with interpretation. Politically, it is best described as centrist to mildly center-right overall: its news reporting is usually fairly balanced but often reflects a market-liberal, globalist perspective, while its opinion and leader columns more clearly favor classical liberal, pro-free-market positions.

BBC News is the news division of the British Broadcasting Corporation, one of the world's largest public-service broadcasters and generally regarded as a highly reliable mainstream outlet. It follows established journalistic standards, has a strong global newsgathering operation, and is usually factual and well-sourced, though it has faced periodic criticism from both left and right over framing and editorial choices. Its straight news reporting is broadly centrist, while its analysis and opinion-adjacent content can show a slight center-left tilt common to many public broadcasters, but not a strong ideological slant.

The Marshall Project is a nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on criminal justice in the United States. It is widely regarded as a serious, high-standard outlet with strong transparency, original reporting, and a solid record for factual accuracy, though its mission-driven focus can shape story selection and framing toward reform-oriented perspectives. Its news reporting is generally careful and evidence-based with only a slight left-of-center tilt, while its commentary and advocacy-adjacent framing tend to lean more clearly left on criminal justice issues.

The New York Times is a major U.S. newspaper with a long record of original reporting, strong newsroom standards, and a robust corrections process, and it is generally regarded as highly reliable despite some notable historical errors and occasional framing disputes. Independent media-bias evaluators commonly place its straight news coverage from center to slight left, while its editorial and opinion sections lean more clearly liberal/progressive. Overall, it is a highly reliable outlet with a modest left-leaning orientation that is more pronounced in opinion than in factual reporting.

The Globe and Mail is a major Canadian national newspaper with a strong reputation for professional journalism, transparent corrections, and in-depth reporting on Canadian politics, business, and world affairs. It is generally regarded as reliable by media-bias monitors and comparable to other mainstream broadsheets, though like most large outlets it is not free of occasional errors or framing disputes. Its straight news coverage is usually centrist to slightly establishment-oriented, while its opinion section often includes a mix of views with a modest tilt toward center-right or pro-business perspectives.

The RAND Corporation is a longstanding U.S. nonprofit research institution and think tank rather than a traditional daily news outlet, but it publishes extensively on public policy, defense, health, economics, and international affairs. It is widely regarded as methodologically serious, transparent about authorship and research structure, and generally careful with evidence, giving it high reliability, though individual reports can reflect institutional or funder-related framing choices. Its work is typically centrist to establishment-oriented in tone, with factual analysis aiming for neutrality; because it does not operate like a conventional editorial page, its opinion content is usually expert analysis rather than overt ideological advocacy.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, Texas-focused news organization known for in-depth coverage of state government, politics, policy, and public affairs. It has a strong reputation for transparency, explanatory reporting, and adherence to mainstream journalistic standards, with a generally solid record for accuracy and accountability. Its straight news coverage is largely nonpartisan and fact-driven, while analysis and commentary can show a slight center-left tilt common to nonprofit public-policy journalism, though not strongly ideological.

The Wall Street Journal is a major U.S. newspaper owned by News Corp, widely regarded as one of the country’s strongest outlets for business, financial, and national reporting. Its news division generally follows solid journalistic standards and is considered reliable by media-bias trackers, though critics sometimes note subtle establishment or center-right framing in coverage choices. Its straight news reporting tends to lean only slightly right, while its editorial and opinion pages are distinctly conservative and often strongly right-leaning.

The Washington Post is a major U.S. newspaper with a strong national and international reporting operation and a long record of breaking significant stories. It is widely regarded as reliable by media-bias and fact-checking monitors, though like other large outlets it has had some notable corrections and criticism over individual stories. Its straight news coverage tends to lean slightly left in framing and story selection, while its opinion section is more clearly left-leaning and often features liberal commentary, though it sometimes publishes conservative voices as well.

The Christian Science Monitor is a long-running international news outlet known for sober, explanatory journalism and a relatively strong reputation for accuracy. Media-bias trackers generally place it near the center or only slightly left of center, and it tends to avoid sensationalism while following mainstream journalistic standards. Its straight news reporting is typically balanced and measured, while opinion content can show a mild center-left or internationalist tilt but is not strongly ideological.

NPR is a major U.S. nonprofit public media organization known for in-depth radio and digital journalism. It is generally regarded as reliable by media-bias and fact-checking monitors, with strong editorial standards, corrections practices, and a solid long-term accuracy record, though critics argue some coverage and story selection can reflect mild center-left framing. Its straight news reporting tends to be close to the center with a slight left lean, while commentary and cultural/political analysis more often lean left than its core reporting.

Ballotpedia is a nonprofit digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections that focuses on reference-style coverage of candidates, ballot measures, offices, and procedures rather than traditional opinion journalism. It is generally regarded as a useful factual resource with a strong emphasis on sourcing, transparency, and nonpartisan presentation, though its content depends heavily on summaries of public records and can vary in depth by topic. Its factual coverage is best characterized as centrist and reference-oriented, and it has little meaningful opinion content compared with conventional news outlets.

CalMatters is a nonprofit California-focused news organization that covers state politics, policy, education, housing, the environment, and government accountability. It has a strong reputation for explanatory and accountability reporting, is generally transparent about funding and corrections, and is widely regarded as reliable, though like many policy-focused nonprofits it can sometimes frame issues in ways that align mildly with center-left civic and reform priorities. Its straight news coverage is close to neutral with a slight left lean, while its opinion and commentary content tends to lean a bit more left than its reported news.

The Atlantic is a long-established U.S. magazine focused on politics, culture, and ideas, with a strong reputation for high-quality editing, explanatory journalism, and reported feature writing. Its factual reporting is generally reliable and follows mainstream journalistic standards, though like many prestige magazines it publishes analysis and framing that often tilts slightly left of center. Its opinion and essays lean more clearly liberal/progressive than its straight reporting, producing an overall modest left-of-center bias.

The Brookings Institution is a major Washington think tank and policy publisher rather than a traditional daily news outlet, but its research and explainers are widely cited in mainstream media and policymaking circles. It generally follows transparent sourcing and publishes serious, evidence-based analysis, giving it high reliability, though its output reflects an institutional center-left to liberal orientation and is not ideologically neutral. Its straight analytical work tends to be only slightly left-leaning, while commentary and policy recommendations more often favor center-left approaches.

The New Yorker is a long-running U.S. magazine known for deeply reported features, cultural coverage, and fact-checked journalism, with a strong reputation for literary quality and accuracy. Its factual reporting is generally reliable and tends to lean slightly to moderately left in story selection and framing, while its essays, criticism, and opinion content more clearly reflect progressive and liberal perspectives. Overall, it is a reliable outlet with a noticeable but not extreme left-of-center orientation.

CBS News is a major U.S. broadcast and digital news organization with a long-established mainstream reputation and generally solid editorial standards. Its straight news reporting is typically factual and well-sourced, with occasional criticism from both sides but no sustained pattern of severe factual problems. Coverage tends to be close to the political center with a slight lean left in story selection and framing, while commentary and analysis are usually a bit more liberal than its core reporting.

Stateline is a nonprofit news service covering U.S. state policy and politics, published by States Newsroom and known for explanatory, issue-focused reporting rather than partisan commentary. Its reporting is generally solid and transparent, with a reputation for factual statehouse coverage and relatively careful sourcing, though it does not have the same long institutional track record or prominence as the largest national wire services. The news content appears largely centrist in tone, while its broader editorial ecosystem can lean slightly left on some policy framing, especially around social policy and governance topics.

ABC News is the national news division of the ABC broadcast network and is generally regarded as a mainstream U.S. news outlet with solid editorial standards. Its straight news reporting is typically factual and well-sourced, with a good long-term accuracy record, though critics sometimes see mild center-left framing in story selection and emphasis. Its opinion and analysis content is limited compared with more overtly ideological outlets, but where interpretation appears it tends to lean slightly left of center.

Axios is a digital news outlet focused on concise, insider-oriented reporting on politics, business, technology, and policy. It is generally regarded as reliable and transparent, with solid sourcing and a strong reputation for factual reporting, though its style can sometimes reflect elite Beltway framing more than ideological advocacy. Its straight news coverage is close to center with a slight left lean, while its analysis and opinion-adjacent content tends to lean a bit more center-left.

Bridge Michigan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan Michigan-focused news outlet that emphasizes state policy, government, education, health, and accountability reporting. It has a strong reputation for serious, original journalism and generally follows standard transparency and correction practices, with little record of major factual failures. Its straight news coverage is mostly centrist to slightly left-leaning in framing, while its analysis and commentary tend to lean a bit more left-of-center overall.

MinnPost is a nonprofit digital news outlet focused on Minnesota politics, policy, and public affairs. It has a solid reputation for original reporting, transparency, and explanatory journalism, with no major pattern of factual inaccuracies; its nonprofit structure and local-focus reporting support a generally reliable rating. Its straight news coverage tends to lean only slightly left in framing and source selection, while its opinion and analysis content more often reflects center-left to liberal perspectives.

Roll Call is a long-running Washington publication focused on Congress, elections and federal policy, now part of FiscalNote. It is generally regarded as a professional, insider-oriented outlet with solid reporting on Capitol Hill and no major pattern of false claims, though its niche focus means it is less often covered by broad media-bias monitors than larger national outlets. Its straight news coverage is usually fairly neutral with a slight center-left tilt typical of mainstream Washington political journalism, and its opinion/commentary content also tends to stay relatively restrained rather than strongly ideological.

The Nevada Independent is a nonprofit state news outlet focused on Nevada politics, policy, and government, and it is generally regarded as a credible local journalism organization. Its reporting is typically detailed, source-based, and transparent about funding and corrections, with a strong emphasis on explanatory political coverage rather than ideological framing. The factual news report leans close to center with a slight left tilt in story selection and framing, while its opinion and commentary content tends to be somewhat more center-left.

The Urban Institute is a well-established Washington, D.C.–based public policy research organization rather than a traditional daily news outlet, and it is generally regarded as a credible source of data-driven analysis. Its work typically follows transparent research methods and is widely cited across policy and media circles, though like many think tanks it often operates within a center-left policy framework, especially on social welfare, housing, and inequality issues. Its factual reports are usually careful and evidence-based, while its commentary and policy recommendations lean somewhat more liberal than its core research products.

VTDigger is a Vermont-based nonprofit news outlet focused on state and local reporting, with a strong reputation for accountability journalism and public-service coverage. It is generally regarded as reliable, with transparent editorial practices and substantive original reporting, though like many nonprofit and regional outlets its analysis and commentary can lean mildly progressive. Its straight news coverage is close to center with a slight left tilt in framing, while opinion content tends to lean a bit more liberal.

CNBC is a major U.S. business and financial news outlet owned by NBCUniversal, best known for market coverage, corporate reporting, and economic news. It is generally regarded as reliable on core financial and breaking business reporting, though like cable news it can mix solid journalism with fast-paced on-air analysis and personality-driven segments that are less rigorous than its straight reporting. Its factual news coverage is broadly centrist with a slight establishment/business framing, while its opinion and guest commentary can vary but tends to be only mildly left of center overall rather than strongly ideological.

Flatwater Free Press is a Nebraska-focused nonprofit investigative newsroom that reports on state and local public-interest issues. It has a strong reputation for original, accountability-oriented journalism and generally follows standard nonprofit newsroom practices for transparency and corrections, with little evidence of persistent factual problems. Its news reporting appears largely centrist and issue-driven, while any interpretive or advocacy-adjacent framing tends to be mild and more noticeable in commentary than in straight reporting.

Honolulu Civil Beat is a nonprofit local news outlet focused on Hawaii public affairs, government, education, and accountability reporting. It is generally regarded as a credible source with solid journalistic standards, transparency, and a strong emphasis on investigative and explanatory reporting, though like many nonprofit civic-news organizations its framing can lean mildly reform-oriented. Its straight news coverage is usually close to center with a slight left-of-center tilt, while its opinion and editorial material tends to lean a bit more liberal.

Illinois Answers Project is a nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on public-interest reporting in Illinois, with coverage of government accountability, housing, health, education, and criminal justice. Its work generally follows standard investigative-journalism practices, emphasizes documentation and transparency, and has a solid reliability profile typical of mission-driven nonprofit newsrooms. Its factual reporting appears only slightly left-leaning, largely because story selection often centers on equity and accountability themes, while any analysis or advocacy-adjacent framing tends to lean a bit more left than the straight reporting.

The Los Angeles Times is a major U.S. metropolitan newspaper with a long history of professional reporting and generally strong editorial standards, including corrections and transparent sourcing. Its news coverage is usually factual and broadly center-left to slightly left in framing, while its opinion and editorial pages lean more clearly liberal or progressive. It has a solid reputation for accuracy overall, though like most large outlets it has faced occasional controversies and criticism over framing or editorial decisions.

Mississippi Today is a nonprofit, state-focused investigative and public-service newsroom covering Mississippi politics, government, education and justice. It has a solid reputation for original reporting and transparency, and its work is generally careful and evidence-based, though like many nonprofit accountability outlets it often emphasizes issues such as public corruption, poverty, race and education inequity. Its straight news coverage is close to center with a slight left-of-center framing at times, while its opinion and analysis content tends to lean a bit more liberal.

Mountain State Spotlight is a nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on West Virginia, covering state policy, health, labor, energy and local accountability reporting. It generally follows mainstream journalistic standards, emphasizes document-based and explanatory reporting, and has a solid reputation as a serious local news outlet, though it has a smaller track record than major national legacy organizations. Its factual reporting appears largely straight news with a mild reform-oriented tilt common in nonprofit investigative journalism, while any analysis or commentary tends to lean slightly more left-of-center.

Politico is a major U.S. political news outlet focused on government, campaigns, and policy, with a strong reputation for insider sourcing and fast, detailed coverage of Washington. Its straight news reporting is generally reliable and follows mainstream journalistic standards, though critics sometimes fault it for process-heavy framing and reliance on anonymous sources rather than ideological distortion. Politically, its news coverage is close to center with a slight lean left in framing and audience perceptions, while its opinion and analysis content tends to lean a bit more left-of-center overall.

The 19th is a nonprofit U.S. newsroom focused on gender, politics, and policy, especially issues affecting women and LGBTQ+ people. It generally follows mainstream journalistic standards, is transparent about its mission and staff, and has a solid reputation for factual reporting, though its topic selection and framing often reflect a center-left to progressive orientation. Its straight news coverage tends to be fairly reported with only a slight left lean, while its commentary and analysis more clearly favor progressive perspectives on social and political issues.

The Guardian is a major UK-based newspaper with a strong international presence and a generally solid reputation for factual reporting, transparency, and corrections, though it sometimes uses framing and story selection that tilt progressive. Its straight news coverage is usually well-sourced and generally reliable, with a slight left lean rather than overt partisanship. Its opinion and editorial sections are distinctly left-leaning, often advancing progressive and social-democratic viewpoints, which pulls its overall bias to the left.

Time is a long-running U.S. news magazine and digital outlet with mainstream editorial standards, broad coverage, and a generally solid reputation for factual reporting. Its news coverage is typically well sourced and falls in the reliable range, though like many major magazines it mixes straight reporting with analysis and magazine-style framing. Politically, it tends to lean slightly left overall, with factual reporting only mildly left-leaning and opinion content somewhat more liberal in emphasis.

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (KyCIR) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom based in Louisville that focuses on accountability and public-interest reporting in Kentucky. It generally follows standard nonprofit-journalism practices, emphasizes documented investigations, and has a solid reputation for serious local reporting, though it has a much smaller profile and track record than major national outlets. Its factual reporting appears largely straight and evidence-driven with at most a slight left-of-center tilt typical of public-interest investigative outlets, while any commentary or framing tends to lean a bit more progressive.

NBC News is the national news division of NBC, a major U.S. broadcast and digital news outlet with a long-established newsroom and standard editorial processes. It is generally regarded as reliable, with solid straight-news reporting and routine corrections practices, though critics on the right often view its framing and story selection as mildly left-leaning. Its factual reporting tends to be close to center with a slight left lean, while opinion and analysis content more clearly tilt liberal.

Government Executive is a long-running trade publication covering the U.S. federal workforce, agencies, contracting, and public-sector management. It is generally regarded as a professional, niche outlet with solid reporting standards and a good track record on federal personnel and policy news, though it is not as widely scrutinized by major bias-rating organizations as top national outlets. Its straight news coverage is largely factual and fairly balanced with a slight technocratic/establishment tilt, while commentary and analysis can lean mildly left on labor, workforce, and governance issues.

Kansas Reflector is a nonprofit state news outlet covering Kansas politics and public affairs, and it is part of States Newsroom, a network generally regarded as transparent and professionally edited. Its reporting is typically solid on factual accuracy and based on standard original-statehouse journalism, though its story selection and framing often align somewhat with center-left priorities. The straight news coverage usually stays fairly restrained, while commentary and analysis tend to lean more clearly progressive.

Louisiana Illuminator is a nonprofit state news outlet covering Louisiana government, policy, and politics, and it is part of States Newsroom. It generally follows standard reporting practices, focuses heavily on public-affairs reporting, and has a solid reputation for factual accuracy, though it is also associated with a network often described as center-left in overall orientation. Its straight news coverage tends to be mildly left-leaning in story selection and framing, while its opinion and commentary content leans more clearly left-of-center.

Oregon Capital Chronicle is a nonprofit state news outlet covering Oregon government and public policy, part of the States Newsroom network. Its reporting is generally solid and transparent, with a reputation for straightforward statehouse journalism and no broad pattern of serious factual problems, though like many nonprofit policy-focused outlets it tends to frame issues somewhat more from a center-left perspective. Its straight news coverage is fairly close to neutral with a slight left lean, while opinion and analysis content leans more clearly left-of-center.

South Dakota Searchlight is a nonprofit state news outlet covering South Dakota politics, policy, and public affairs, and it is part of the States Newsroom network. It generally follows standard reporting practices, emphasizes document-based and accountability reporting, and has a solid reputation for factual accuracy, though like many nonprofit/statehouse outlets it can frame issues somewhat through a public-interest and reform-oriented lens. Its straight news coverage appears only slightly left of center, while commentary and analysis tend to lean more clearly left-of-center overall.

The i Paper is a UK national newspaper and digital outlet (inews.co.uk) known for straightforward reporting and a relatively centrist presentation compared with more partisan British tabloids and broadsheets. Its news coverage generally follows mainstream journalistic standards and has a solid reputation for accuracy, though like many UK outlets it mixes reporting with analysis and commentary that can lean slightly liberal or metropolitan. Overall it appears generally reliable, with factual reporting close to center and opinion content showing a mild leftward lean.

The Maine Monitor is a nonprofit investigative and public-interest news outlet focused on Maine, published by the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting. It has a generally strong reputation for serious, issue-focused journalism, with transparent nonprofit ownership, staff bylines, and corrections/contact information, though it does not have the long national track record or broad third-party ratings of larger legacy outlets. Its factual reporting appears mostly straight and evidence-based with a slight center-left tilt common to nonprofit public-interest journalism, while any analysis or commentary tends to lean a bit more left than its news coverage.

WyoFile is a nonprofit, Wyoming-focused news outlet covering state politics, public lands, energy and local accountability reporting. It has a solid reputation for original, fact-based journalism and transparency typical of nonprofit public-interest newsrooms, with no broad record of major factual failures. Its straight reporting appears largely centrist to slightly left-leaning in framing, while opinion and analysis content also tends to remain fairly restrained, producing an overall slight left-of-center lean.

Mother Jones is a long-running nonprofit investigative magazine known for accountability reporting, politics, and social-justice-focused journalism. It generally follows standard editorial practices and has produced substantial factual reporting, but its framing and story selection often reflect a clearly progressive perspective. Its straight news and investigative work is more restrained than its commentary, while opinion content leans strongly left.