LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate AOL News as Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that moderately favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation and later America Online (AOL), it is a web portal and online service provider. AOL.com features aggregated, curated, and original news reporting.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Several companies in its history have owned AOL, most recently being acquired by Apollo Global Management from Verizon in a deal said to be worth $5 billion. Advertising and sponsored content derive revenue for the company.
Analysis / Bias
In review, the majority of AOL’s news content is curated from other sources. The most common sources cited in the articles I reviewed were Business Insider (Left-Center), Reuters (Least Biased), AP (Least Biased), and ABC News (Left-Center). I rate their curated content low-biased, with minimal loaded words and appropriately sourced. On the other hand, AOL produces news content with a more editorial tone. The AOL-produced content uses moderate loaded words and favors the left in most stories. The articles are typically sourced from mostly left-center sources and, for the most part, are rooted in fact.
Based on this review, AOL.com aligns with a left-center bias and high factual reporting. The site combines aggregated content from various sources with its own reporting, maintaining a balance in its coverage with a slight lean towards left-center perspectives in its editorial content.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate AOL News as Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that moderately favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. (D. Van Zandt 4/2/2017) Updated (11/17/2023)
Source: https://www.aol.com/
Last Updated on November 17, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources