RIGHT BIAS
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 information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.
- Overall, Alaska Policy Forum is a right-leaning advocacy think tank that promotes free-market education reform, opposes climate-related financial disclosure, and aligns with national conservative networks such as the State Policy Network. While it uses legitimate statistics in some cases, its selective presentation and policy-driven framing reflect a strong ideological bias. Its association with SPN and support for campaigns organized by fossil fuel–funded groups warrant a Right Bias and Mixed Factual rating.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT (6.4)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (5.0)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Alaska Policy Forum (APF) is a conservative public policy think tank located in Anchorage, Alaska. It advocates for limited government, school choice, deregulation, and free-market principles. APF is a member of the State Policy Network, a national alliance of right-leaning think tanks and advocacy groups. Its leadership includes individuals with backgrounds in conservative activism and public policy. While the organization describes itself as nonpartisan, its content and partnerships align strongly with conservative and libertarian ideology.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
APF is a nonprofit organization. It does not disclose detailed financial information or the names of its donors on its donation page, thereby limiting transparency. However, it is a member of the State Policy Network, which has received millions of dollars in funding from fossil fuel interests and conservative donor-advised funds, including DonorsTrust, the Searle Freedom Trust, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Bradley Foundation. SPN-affiliated groups often receive direct grants and share messaging infrastructure. Notably, SPN has promoted climate denial and partnered with organizations like the Heartland Institute, Cato Institute, and Heritage Foundation that question the scientific consensus on climate change.
Analysis / Bias
The Alaska Policy Forum publishes strongly ideological content that favors school privatization, deregulation, and opposes climate policy mandates. In “Want better schools? Healthy competition is the difference”, the organization promotes Florida’s charter and voucher-based education model over Alaska’s public school system, presenting a simplistic narrative attributing Alaska’s educational struggles to a lack of competition. In “Charter Schools Are Public Schools”, the forum defends charter schools using selective metrics and anecdotes, favoring privatization efforts despite mixed national outcomes and ignoring concerns such as funding inequalities and oversight issues.
On climate and environmental policy, APF exhibits clear alignment with fossil fuel interests. In “Coalition Letters: SEC Should Abandon Climate Disclosure Proposal”, APF joined efforts led by the Heritage Foundation and Competitive Enterprise Institute to block proposed Securities and Exchange Commission rules requiring corporations to disclose climate-related financial risks. The letter labels such proposals as “arbitrary and capricious,” reflecting the broader SPN strategy of opposing regulatory interventions on climate and energy.
APF also operates a Legislative Vote Tracker that selectively scores lawmakers based on adherence to APF’s policy preferences, reinforcing partisan alignment.
Though APF occasionally cites legitimate studies or data (e.g., NAEP scores), it often presents cherry-picked interpretations and ideological commentary rather than neutral analysis. Its messaging closely mirrors that of national groups promoting school choice, fossil fuel expansion, and deregulation under the banner of “freedom” or “limited government,” with minimal critique of those systems.
Failed Fact Checks
- There are no formal third-party fact-checks of the Alaska Policy Forum. However, its affiliation with the State Policy Network, a hub for climate denial, anti-regulatory activism, and dark money operations, raises concerns about narrative reliability and selective evidence use. Its positions often oppose scientific and expert consensus, especially regarding climate and environmental policy.
Overall, Alaska Policy Forum is a right-leaning advocacy think tank that promotes free-market education reform, opposes climate-related financial disclosure, and aligns with national conservative networks such as the State Policy Network. While it uses legitimate statistics in some cases, its selective presentation and policy-driven framing reflect a strong ideological bias. Its association with SPN and support for campaigns organized by fossil fuel–funded groups warrant a Right Bias and Mixed Factual rating. (D. Van Zandt 08/07/2025)
Source: https://alaskapolicyforum.org/
Last Updated on August 7, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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