LEAST BIASED
These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes). The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased Sources.
- Annie Lab is a Hong Kong-based fact-checking project operated by HKU Journalism and ANNIE. It is highly transparent, applies rigorous sourcing practices, and is certified by the IFCN. With no evidence of failed fact checks and a strict nonpartisan mission, Annie Lab is rated Least Biased and High for factual reporting.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED (-0.5)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (0.3)
Country: Hong Kong
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Annie Lab is a fact-checking project launched in 2019 by the Journalism & Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong in partnership with ANNIE, a non-profit news literacy organization. It operates as both a newsroom and a teaching program where students’ work is edited and supervised by faculty. Annie Lab became a verified IFCN signatory in January 2022 and joined the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Safety Net in 2023.
Read our profile on Hong Kong’s media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Annie Lab is tied to HKU’s journalism curriculum, a publicly funded university. Its finance disclosures show support from ANNIE, the Google News Initiative (2020 & 2022), and the Check Global Independent Media Response Fund (2023). ANNIE is a Hong Kong-registered not-for-profit (BRN 71346556).
Analysis / Bias
Annie Lab is a professional fact-checking outlet with no political agenda. Its content focuses exclusively on debunking misinformation using transparent methods. For example, its analysis of an AI-generated pothole video relied on watermarks, metadata, and reverse image search to prove the clip was synthetic.
In another case, Annie Lab debunked viral posts claiming that China controls 80% of global blood exports, showing the actual share was under 10% based on International Trade Centre data.
Reports are clearly labeled with verdicts such as “False,” and sourcing is explicit, often citing official statistics, international organizations, or primary data. Annie Lab avoids editorializing and refrains from promoting policy agendas, thereby ensuring neutrality. The newsroom model, where students produce fact checks reviewed by faculty, adds a layer of transparency and rigor.
Failed Fact Checks
- No failed fact checks have been documented for Annie Lab. Its work is internationally recognized through its IFCN membership.
Annie Lab is a Hong Kong-based fact-checking project operated by HKU Journalism and ANNIE. It is highly transparent, applies rigorous sourcing practices, and is certified by the IFCN. With no evidence of failed fact checks and a strict nonpartisan mission, Annie Lab is rated Least Biased and High for factual reporting. (D. Van Zandt 08/23/2025)
Source: https://annielab.org/
Last Updated on August 23, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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