Daily Source Bias Check: Spiked Magazine

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. See all Right Bias sources.

• Overall, we rate Spiked Magazine Right Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that mostly favor the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to a failed a fact check as well as publishing misleading scientific information.

Detailed Report

Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: United Kingdom
World Press Freedom Rank: UK 33/180

History

Launched in 2001, Spiked is a British Internet magazine focusing on politics, culture and society from a libertarian viewpoint. Spiked focuses on issues of freedom and state control, science and technology, culture, education and literature. According to their about page “Spiked is the magazine that wants to change the world as well as report on it. We are committed to fighting for humanism, democracy and freedom. “The current editor is Brendan O’Neill.

Funded by / Ownership

Spiked is owned by Spiked Limited, which is a company owned by Frank Furedi and Jennie Bristow. Funding has come from the Charles Koch Foundation and currently revenue is generated through donations and onsite advertising.

Analysis / Bias

In review, Spiked publishes news and commentary with a conservative/libertarian bias. There is frequent use of loaded emotional language such as this: The barbarism of identity politics. There is also many articles featuring anti-feminist tones such as this: #MeToo has ruined the office romance. When it comes to UK politics they are fiercely pro-Brexit and when covering USA politics they report favorably on President Donald Trump such this: If Trump is Hitler, then Obama was Hitler too. There is also some articles opposed to Trump such as this: The idiocy of Trump’s Iran-baiting. When it comes to climate science, Spiked has varied editorial positions with most supporting the notion that global warming is indeed impacted by humans, however, they prefer a limited Government role, which does not align with climate scientists recommendations. They have also published misleading information such as this: Global warming: the 97% fallacy.

A factual search reveals one failed fact check.

Overall, we rate Spiked Magazine Right Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that mostly favor the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to a failed a fact check as well as publishing misleading scientific information. (D. Van Zandt 12/27/2016) Updated (8/10/2019)

Source: http://spiked-online.com/