How we rate bias.
Every outlet on The Wire carries a bias label. Here's where those labels come from, how we apply them, and what they do and don't mean.
The five-bucket spectrum
We classify every outlet into one of five buckets. This isn't a value judgment — it's a map of where an outlet's editorial decisions land relative to the U.S. political center. The spectrum applies to editorial lean, not individual article quality.
Where ratings come from
We don't invent these ratings from scratch. Most outlet bias labels are sourced from AllSides, which uses multi-method assessment: editorial review, blind surveys, third-party data, and community feedback. When AllSides doesn't cover an outlet (typically international or niche sources), we apply our own classification based on editorial analysis.
Blindspot detection
When a story is covered by outlets on one side of the spectrum but not the other, we flag it as a blindspot. The threshold is simple: if more than 80% of covering outlets fall on one side (left or right of center), the story earns a blindspot badge.
Blindspots don't mean the story is wrong. They mean one political ecosystem isn't talking about it — and that's worth knowing whether you lean left, right, or sit in the middle.
Ownership transparency
Every outlet on The Wire displays its parent company or owner. Knowing who signs the checks doesn't invalidate the reporting — but it's context you should have. We source ownership data from public filings, company about pages, and the Columbia Journalism Review.
What this doesn't tell you
- Individual article accuracy. A center-rated outlet can publish a wrong story; a right-rated outlet can publish great investigative work. We rate the outlet, not the article.
- International political mapping. Our spectrum is calibrated to U.S. politics. What reads as "center" in the U.S. might lean differently on a global scale. We're working on regional spectrums.
- Objective truth. Bias ratings are a tool for media literacy, not a stamp of approval or condemnation. Read widely, think critically.
All 34 monitored outlets
Sorted by bias bucket- LeftThe New York TimesThe New York Times CompanyAllSides
- LeftThe Washington PostNash HoldingsAllSides
- LeftNPRNational Public RadioAllSides
- LeftThe GuardianGuardian Media GroupAllSides
- LeftVoxVox MediaAllSides
- LeftMSNBCNBCUniversalAllSides
- LeftThe AtlanticEmerson CollectiveAllSides
- Center-LeftABC NewsThe Walt Disney CompanyAllSides
- Center-LeftCBS NewsParamount GlobalAllSides
- Center-LeftNBC NewsNBCUniversalAllSides
- Center-LeftBloombergBloomberg L.P.AllSides
- Center-LeftAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Media NetworkAllSides
- CenterReutersThomson ReutersAllSides
- CenterAssociated PressAssociated PressAllSides
- CenterBBC NewsBritish Broadcasting CorporationAllSides
- CenterThe HillNexstar Media GroupAllSides
- CenterAxiosCox EnterprisesAllSides
- CenterPoliticoAxel Springer SEAllSides
- CenterCBC NewsCanadian Broadcasting CorporationIn-house
- CenterCTV NewsBell MediaIn-house
- CenterDeutsche WelleDeutsche WelleIn-house
- CenterEl UniversalEl Universal Compañía Periodística NacionalIn-house
- CenterSouth China Morning PostAlibaba GroupIn-house
- Center-RightThe Wall Street JournalNews CorpAllSides
- Center-RightThe EconomistThe Economist GroupAllSides
- Center-RightNew York PostNews CorpAllSides
- Center-RightNational ReviewNational Review InstituteAllSides
- Center-RightReformaGrupo ReformaIn-house
- RightFox NewsFox CorporationAllSides
- RightWashington ExaminerClarity Media GroupAllSides
- RightThe Daily WireBentkey VenturesAllSides
- RightThe Washington TimesOperations HoldingsAllSides
- RightBreitbartBreitbart News NetworkAllSides
- RightRTRussian governmentIn-house