Daily Source Bias Check: City Journal

These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports and omit reporting of information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy.

• Overall, we rate City Journal Right Biased based on policy positions that favor conservative and libertarian causes and Mostly Factual in reporting due to a few misleading statements regarding climate change and same sex marriage.

Detailed Report

Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
World Press Freedom Rank: USA 48/180

History

Founded in 1990, City Journal is a quarterly magazine and website published by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a conservative think tank based in New York City. According to their about page “City Journal offers a stimulating mix of hard-headed practicality and cutting-edge theory, with articles on everything from school financing, policing strategy, and welfare policy to urban architecture, family policy, and the latest theorizing emanating from the law schools, the charitable foundations, even the schools of public health.” The current editor is Brian C. Anderson.

City Journal writes on their about page that they helped save New York City in the 90’s: “During the Giuliani Administration, the magazine served as an idea factory as the then-mayor revivified New York City, quickly becoming, in the words of the New York Post, “the place where Rudy gets his ideas.” The Public Interest went further, calling City Journal “the magazine that saved the city.”

Funded by / Ownership

City Journal is published by Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, which is a conservative 501(c)(3) non-profit American think tank focused on domestic policy and urban affairs. Foundations which have contributed over $1 million to the Manhattan Institute include the John M. Olin Foundation, Bradley Foundation, Sarah Scaife Foundation, Searle Freedom Trust, Smith Richardson Foundation, William E. Simon Foundation, the Claude Lambe Foundation, the Gilder Foundation, the Curry Foundation, and the Jaquelin Hume Foundation. City Journal generates revenue through subscription fees.

Analysis / Bias

In review, City Journal reports news and information regarding urban planning and politics with a right leaning bias. There is moderate use of loaded language such as this: Making Affordable Housing Even Scarcer. This article is critical of Democratic Mayor Bill De Blasio’s rent regulations, in favor of a more free market approach. This article is also not sourced with hyperlinks. Although City Journal is a conservative publication they do not always approve of President Trump’s economic policies such as this: Trump’s Tariff Gambit. The magazine is also highly critical of Democratic Socialism such as this: Rebranding Socialism. A quote from the article reads “Democrats increasingly suggest that the failed ideology is just another word for benevolent government.” When it comes to science they proclaim Climate Change to be exaggerated It’s the End of the World . . . Sort Of. This article does not deny climate change is influenced by humans, but questions the severity and the solutions. It is also properly sourced to such sources as The Guardian and Nature. City Journal also offers a controversial view that gay marriage may lead to polygamy. In general, most stories favor the right and are reasonably sourced.

A factual search reveals they have not failed a fact check.

Overall, we rate City Journal Right Biased based on policy positions that favor conservative and libertarian causes and Mostly Factual in reporting due to a few misleading statements regarding climate change and same sex marriage. (D. Van Zandt 7/18/2016) Updated (7/20/2019)

Source: https://www.city-journal.org