Daily Source Bias Check: Poynter Institute

LEAST BIASED

These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes). The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased sources.

Overall, we rate Poynter Institute Least Biased based on low emotional reporting and High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.

Detailed Report

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

History

The Poynter Institute for Media Studies is a non-profit school for journalism located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school is the owner of The Tampa Bay Times newspaper. The school began on May 29, 1975 and offers courses for journalists and students. The website was launched in 1999.

In 2015, the institute launched the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) dedicated to bringing together fact-checkers worldwide to support the growing number of initiatives by promoting best practices and exchanges in the field. The current President is Neil Brown.

Funded by / Ownership

The website is owned by the non-profit Poynter Institute for Media Studies. They are funded through tuition and donations. The website discloses donors who give over $50,000, which includes a diversified list such as the right leaning Charles Koch Foundation and the left leaning George Soros backed Open Societies Foundation.

Analysis / Bias

In review, the Poynter website features news related to the press and news industry. Headlines utilize mild to moderate loaded emotional language such as this: Across the world, politicians promote conspiracy theories to get ahead. This story is properly sourced to scientific studies as well as the Least Biased Reuters. Poynter also established the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN), which established a code of principles for fact checking. In order to be a signatory of the IFCN a media source must apply and adhere to their guidelines. Further, Poynter owns the fact checker Politifact, which is also a part of the IFCN. In general, Poynter reports news with low bias and proper sourcing.

A factual search reveals they have not failed fact check. However, in May of 2019, Poynter published an article called UnNews, which listed 515 media source they deemed not reliable. This article was met with criticism due to the list containing some biased, but credible sources. Within two days, Poynter retracted the article and issued an apology. Media Bias Fact Check covered this story, which you can read here.

Overall, we rate Poynter Institute Least Biased based on low emotional reporting and High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 10/15/2016) Updated (7/28/2019)

Source: https://www.poynter.org