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CONSPIRACY-PSEUDOSCIENCE

Sources in the Conspiracy-Pseudoscience category may publish unverifiable information that is not always supported by evidence. These sources may be untrustworthy for credible/verifiable information; therefore, fact-checking and further investigation are recommended on a per-article basis when obtaining information from these sources. See all Conspiracy-Pseudoscience sources.

History

Compact Magazine is a German far-right magazine founded in 2010 by Jürgen Elsässer. It is known for promoting nationalist, anti-immigration, and Eurosceptic views. The magazine often supports conspiracy theories and right-wing populism. In July 2024, the German government banned Compact due to its extremist content (Reuters). The German government accused Compact of being a “mouthpiece for the right-wing extremist scene” and inciting hatred of Jews and foreigners.

Please read our profile on Germany’s government and media for details.

Funded by / Ownership

Jürgen Elsässer owns Compact Magazine, which generates revenue through subscriptions, digital and print edition sales, and promotional content.

Analysis / Bias

Compact Magazine demonstrates a strong right-wing bias, often endorsing nationalist, anti-immigration, and populist viewpoints. For instance, it supported the far-right AfD using the slogan“Mut zur Wahrheit,” which was closely associated with the party. The site also promotes anti-vaccine propaganda, as noted by Tagesschau. Another article, “Gang rapists in NRW: 78% migrants!” selectively highlights crimes involving migrants to further anti-immigration sentiment.

In addition to biased reporting, Compact has been criticized for poor journalistic practices. The magazine’s founder, Jürgen Elsässer, has been accused of paraphrasing or copying content from mainstream publications like Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) without proper attribution. In some instances, entire passages are taken from FAZ articles, with Elsässer omitting citations and simply adding his extreme opinions at the end. This further supports claims of low-quality output​. 

Compact Magazine consistently supports far-right ideologies in Germany and the United States. For instance, the article “TV Duel: How Trump and Harris fared” reflects a clear pro-Trump bias. It claims Trump repeatedly emphasized border control, accusing Democrats of opening borders for electoral gain—a claim that lacks substantiation and reflects common right-wing talking points​. Additionally, the article repeats false claims about migrants stealing pets and eating them, a narrative that has been debunked​. Trump is portrayed as strong on economic issues, while Harris is criticized for her stance on fracking and financial policies. The article relies heavily on inflammatory rhetoric, with little balance or fact-based analysis, framing Trump favorably while attacking Harris without offering credible evidence.​ This selective framing is typical in Compact’s editorial choices, promoting far-right ideologies while discrediting opposing views.

Failed Fact Checks

• Fact Checking reveals that they have been cited for false vaccine and election fraud conspiracies and for promoting European QAnon conspiracies.

Overall, we rate Compact Magazine as a far-right, questionable source due to its promotion of extremist views, support for AfD, anti-vaccine rhetoric, and frequent disinformation. We also rate them as very low factual in reporting due to consistent false and misleading claims. (M. Huitsing 09/12/2024)

Source: https://www.compact-online.de/

Last Updated on September 12, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check

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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources