Media Bias Chart
The Media Bias Chart is a reference tool covering media bias chart, news bias chart, allsides media bias chart, political bias chart. Use the chart below to look up values instantly. Printable and downloadable versions are available on this page.
Media Bias Chart — News Source Reference
Media bias ratings assess news sources on two dimensions — left-right political lean and reliability or quality of reporting — helping readers understand the perspective and credibility of news they consume.
| News Source | Political Lean | Reporting Reliability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP (Associated Press) | Centre | High | Wire service — widely syndicated. Rated Centre by AllSides. |
| Reuters | Centre | High | International wire service. Rated Centre across most rating systems. |
| BBC | Centre to Slight Left | High | UK public broadcaster. Rated Centre-Left by most US metrics. |
| PBS NewsHour | Centre to Slight Left | High | US public broadcaster. Rated Centre-Left by AllSides. |
| NPR | Slight Left to Left | High to Medium-High | US public radio. Rated Lean Left by AllSides. |
| New York Times | Lean Left | Medium-High | Rated Lean Left by AllSides. Distinguishes news from opinion. |
| Washington Post | Lean Left | Medium-High | Rated Lean Left by AllSides. Owned by Jeff Bezos. |
| The Guardian | Left | Medium-High | UK-based. Rated Left by AllSides. |
| MSNBC | Left | Medium | Cable news — opinion and news mixed. Rated Left by AllSides. |
| CNN | Lean Left | Medium | Cable news. Rated Lean Left by AllSides. |
| ABC News | Lean Left | Medium-High | Network news. Rated Lean Left. |
| CBS News | Lean Left | Medium-High | Network news. Rated Lean Left. |
| NBC News | Lean Left | Medium-High | Network news. Rated Lean Left. |
| The Hill | Centre | Medium-High | Covers both parties. Rated Centre by AllSides. |
| Axios | Centre to Slight Left | Medium-High | Brief news format. Rated Centre or Lean Left. |
| Politico | Lean Left | Medium | Policy and politics focused. Rated Lean Left. |
| The Economist | Centre to Slight Left | High | UK-based international news magazine. |
| Wall Street Journal — News | Centre to Slight Right | High | News section rated separately from opinion section. |
| USA Today | Centre | Medium-High | Rated Centre by AllSides. |
| Fox News | Right | Medium-Low | Cable news — opinion and news mixed. Rated Right by AllSides. |
| New York Post | Right | Medium | Tabloid style. Rated Lean Right to Right. |
| The Daily Wire | Right | Medium-Low | Conservative commentary focus. Rated Right. |
| Breitbart | Far Right | Low | Rated Extreme Right by AllSides. |
| Mother Jones | Left | Medium | Progressive investigative journalism. Rated Left. |
| Vox | Lean Left | Medium | Explanatory journalism. Rated Lean Left by AllSides. |
Source: AllSides Media Bias Ratings and Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart
How to Read the Media Bias Chart
- The left-right axis — most media bias charts place news sources on a spectrum from Far Left through Centre to Far Right based on the political values reflected in their selection of stories, framing, sourcing, and editorial choices. This axis does not judge factual accuracy.
- The reliability axis — a second dimension rates the quality of journalism: original reporting, factual accuracy, use of expert sources, transparency, and corrections. A source can be politically biased but still factually reliable (or vice versa).
- News vs opinion — most major outlets produce both straight news reporting and opinion or editorial content. News sections and opinion sections of the same outlet often have different bias ratings. Always check whether you are reading a news article or an opinion piece.
- How to apply this — consuming news from both sides of the political spectrum and from high-reliability sources at the centre gives a more complete picture of events. Recognising that all sources have some perspective is more useful than believing any single source is perfectly unbiased.
News Bias Comparator
Enter a news topic or headline to compare how left-leaning, centrist, and right-leaning outlets typically frame coverage — with source credibility scores shown side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is media bias?
Media bias refers to the tendency of news coverage to systematically favour certain political viewpoints, stories, or framings over others. All news involves editorial choices — what to cover, how to frame it, which sources to quote — and those choices reflect the values and perspectives of the people making them.
Is there any truly unbiased news source?
No news source is completely unbiased because all journalism involves human editorial judgment. However some sources — including AP, Reuters, BBC News, and PBS NewsHour — are consistently rated as more centrist and reliable than others by multiple independent media rating organisations.
What is the difference between news and opinion?
News reporting aims to describe events factually using verified sources and multiple perspectives. Opinion or editorial content presents the writer's interpretation, argument, or viewpoint — it is labelled as opinion in responsible outlets but the distinction is often missed by readers especially on social media where context is stripped.
How does AllSides rate media bias?
AllSides uses a combination of blind surveys of people with different political backgrounds, editorial review by multi-partisan teams, and analysis of language and story selection. Ratings are periodically reviewed and updated as outlets' coverage evolves.
Does a left-leaning source mean its facts are wrong?
Not necessarily — political lean and factual accuracy are separate dimensions. A source can have a consistent left or right perspective in how it frames stories while still reporting facts accurately. Conversely a politically centrist source can sometimes publish inaccurate or poorly sourced reporting.
Why does media bias matter?
News consumption shapes how people understand the world — sources with strong political lean can create a distorted picture of reality if consumed exclusively. Understanding a source's perspective helps readers evaluate coverage critically rather than accepting it uncritically.
What is the most trusted news source in the US?
Trust ratings vary significantly by political affiliation — no single source is trusted equally across the political spectrum. AP, Reuters, and PBS consistently score among the highest for trust and accuracy across ratings from multiple organisations.
What is a media bubble?
A media bubble occurs when a person consumes news only from sources that confirm their existing political views — creating a distorted picture of events and reducing exposure to different perspectives. Algorithmic social media feeds that prioritise engagement tend to reinforce media bubbles.