The Factual | Blog - Page 3 of 13 - Unbiased news. Trending topics.

Is CNN Reliable?

CNN has long been a major news source and was one of the pioneers behind round-the-clock news programming. However, the organization has shifted to the left over the last decade — now, critics argue it has a strong liberal bias that skews its coverage. This leads us to ask two important questions. How reliable is CNN and how biased is it?

Note: This article is specifically about CNN’s news website, not any of its television programming, unless noted otherwise.

How Factual Is CNN?

The Factual analyzed 785,000 news articles from 32 major news sources between January 1, 2020 and May 18, 2021. To be included, each news source must have published at least 5,000 articles over the time period, or at least 10 articles per day.

How Real Is “Cancel Culture?”

Have you ever felt uncomfortable sharing your opinion on politics — whether online or with friends? If so, you’re not alone. Americans are becoming increasingly cautious about sharing their political opinions. In a recent survey, 62 percent of Americans described today’s political climate as one that “prevents them from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive.” Further, this was not a sentiment limited to one side of the political spectrum. More than half of liberals and three-quarters of conservatives are hesitant to share some of their political views. Both of these percentages have risen in recent years, in tandem with the rising debate over so-called “cancel culture.”

But it’s not just everyday Americans that feel limited in their speech. In July 2020, 153 notable academics, authors, journalists, and others published “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” in Harper’s Magazine. In the letter, signees ranging from liberal philosopher Noam Chomsky to conservative author David Brooks voice their concern over “cancel culture” and the preservation of free speech. While the extent to which “cancel culture” endangers free speech is debated, the letter demonstrates that some academics and media professionals consider it a serious threat.

Is Fox News Reliable?

Fox News is a flagship news source for conservatives. However, it receives criticism from many for having a strong conservative bias and, at times, problematic news coverage. This leads us to ask two important questions. How reliable is Fox News and how biased is it?

Note: This article is specifically about Fox News’ online website, not any of its television programming, unless noted otherwise.

How Factual Is Fox News?

The Factual analyzed 785,000 news articles from 32 major news sources between January 1, 2020 and May 18, 2021. To be included for consideration, the news source must have published at least 5,000 articles over the time period, or at least 10 articles per day.

Is Politico Liberal?

Politico has risen from upstart to a key news source in Washington, recently selling for $1 billion. The media outlet seeks to be the “dominant source for news on politics and policy,” using “reliable information, nonpartisan journalism and real-time tools [to] create, inform and engage a global citizenry.” Does it deliver on this mission of being factual and unbiased?

How Factual Is Politico?

Is the New York Times Liberal?

The New York Times is one of the largest newspapers in the U.S. and plays a prominent role in the media landscape. It has roughly 100 million registered users — readers who can only read a set number of articles per month — and its advertising department claims to reach an online audience of 164.2 million users globally. Recognized by many for its factual reporting, the newspaper also must contend perceptions of and questions about its liberal bias. How reliable is the New York Times and how biased is it?

**How Factual Is the New York Times?**

The Factual analyzed 785,000 news articles from 32 major news sources between January 1, 2020 and May 18, 2021. Each news source published at least 5,000 articles over the time period — at least 10 articles per day.

Is NPR Biased?

NPR, or National Public Radio, is one of the most prolific news sources in the U.S., with over 1,000 public radio stations across the nation and a very popular news website. However, at times NPR has been accused of having a liberal bias. So, how reliable is NPR and how biased is it?

How Factual Is NPR?

The Factual analyzed the (near) total article output of 32 major news sources between January 1, 2020 and May 18, 2021, totaling more than 785,000 articles. In total, each of the included news sources published at least 5,000 articles during the time period, or at least 10 articles per day.

The View From The Factual’s Readers: The Majority Want to Kill the $3.5 Trillion Infrastructure Bill

Earlier this week, House Democrats voted 220-212 to move forward with assembling a $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill, which would represent spending above and beyond the $1 trillion bipartisan bill already passed by the Senate. Neither bill has come up for a final vote, but timing will be at the end of September.

The machinations related to these budget packages have been watched closely in Washington, with progressive Democrats — and President Biden — signaling that the budgets must be passed simultaneously.

Best Left News Sources for Unbiased Readers

For consumers of news from left-leaning viewpoints, the task of finding credible news can be difficult. While news on the right is increasingly restricted to a handful of sources, left-leaning outlets are numerous and varied. As a result, finding the best news to read is increasingly challenging.

The allure of ad revenue incentivizes news sources to publish more frequently. But is good for publishers may not be good for the consumer. Finding well-researched, minimally biased, and credible articles is hard but essential for making daily choices. And everyone deserves the tools to do so.

Pandemic Endgame: Confronting Covid-19 Vaccine Misinformation

Vaccinations are arguably the greatest medical technology ever created. From the eradication of smallpox to the prevention of certain types of cancers, the success of vaccines is indisputable. The recent COVID-19 vaccines are no less impressive than their numerous predecessors, but are just as maligned by vaccine misinformation. The leaders in effectiveness are the dual-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which achieve about 95% effectiveness after two doses, while the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a 72% overall efficacy with an 86% efficacy against severe disease. While no vaccine offers 100% protection, they are all recommended to help bring this pandemic to a close and return society to normal. It is already evident that these vaccines are delivering on their promise to protect society as case numbers have dropped precipitously across the U.S. since their introduction.

The Best Conservative News Sources

Large conservative news outlets like Fox News and Breitbart produce hundreds of articles a day. For example, over 504 days of news coverage, Fox News published at least 64,122 articles, or almost 125 articles per day. Because news consumers are swamped with choices, it can be hard to know what to read. While the guiding principle of “quality over quantity” rings true, it’s harder than ever to live by.

The allure of ad revenue forces news sites to publish with increasing frequency. But what might be best for newsrooms may not be the best for new consumers. As a result, finding articles that are well researched, minimally biased, and credible is no small task. Everyone deserves the tools to do so.