RIGHT BIAS
These media sources are moderate 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.
- Overall, we rate Commentary Magazine Right Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that favor the traditional Republican Party. We also rate them Mostly Factual for reporting, rather than High, due to sometimes misrepresenting the consensus of science on climate change, despite proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Magazine
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 1945, Commentary is a monthly American magazine on religion, Judaism, politics, and social and cultural issues. Besides its strong coverage of cultural issues, Commentary historically provided a strong voice for the anti-Stalinist left. Norman Podhoretz, the founder, originally a liberal Democrat turned neoconservative, moved the magazine to the right and toward the Republican Party in the 1970s and 1980s. The current editor is John Podhoretz, an American writer, a columnist for the New York Post, the author of several books on politics, and a former speechwriter for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. The website also provides a masthead on its about page.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
The magazine is owned by Commentary Inc., a nonprofit that serves as the publisher. Revenue is derived from print advertising, donations, and subscription fees.
Analysis / Bias
In review, Commentary Magazine publishes original news and opinion pieces that favor neoconservatives and are typically pro-Israel. They also produce several Podcasts per week.
Headlines often use moderately loaded emotional language to sway the reader, such as this: Let the Impeachment Turf War Begin. This story is credibly sourced to the Washington Post. Although this is a conservative-leaning publication, they do not always align with the former Trump administration: Trump Did This to Himself. Regarding science, Commentary does not outright reject the human impact on climate change; however, they do not support government solutions and sometimes use wording that misleads on the impact, such as this: The Worst Climate Change Canard. While they don’t promote blatant misinformation regarding Covid-19, they often minimize it: The Last Gasp of Covid Fanaticism.
Commentary Magazine is very well written, with almost all stories favoring the right; however, they oppose the former Trump Administration’s brand of Conservatism and usually properly source their information.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Commentary Magazine Right Biased based on story selection and editorial positions that favor the traditional Republican Party. We also rate them Mostly Factual for reporting, rather than High, due to sometimes misrepresenting the consensus of science on climate change, despite proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 8/16/2016) Updated (07/15/2022)
Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources