Daraj is rated Left-Center with High factual reporting by Media Bias Fact Check.
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 using appeal 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 Daraj Left-Center Biased based on its socially progressive, rights-focused editorial agenda and consistent emphasis on women, minorities, civil liberties, and anti-authoritarianism. We rate it High for factual reporting due to strong investigative sourcing, transparent leadership and funding, collaborative journalism, and a clean recent fact-check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-4.1)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.8)
Country: Lebanon
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: LIMITED FREEDOM
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Daraj is an independent Arabic-language digital news platform launched in 2017 by journalists Hazem Al-Amin, Alia Ibrahim, and Diana Moukalled. It publishes investigative journalism, opinion, features, video, and audio focused on politics, corruption, human rights, gender, minorities, climate, freedom of expression, and social issues across the Arab world. Read its About page.
Daraj describes its mission as providing journalism independent of the political funding that influences much of the Arab media environment. It also collaborates with regional and international investigative organizations and has participated in cross-border projects, including work connected to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Daraj discusses its founding and funding history here.
Read our profile on Lebanon’s government and media.
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
Funded by / Ownership
Daraj operates as a commercial media company founded and led by its journalist partners. Alia Ibrahim serves as founding partner and CEO, while Hazem Al-Amin and Diana Moukalled serve as founding editors. The publication states that financial independence is necessary for editorial independence and publicly discloses institutional funders on its About page.
Daraj has disclosed support from international media-development and philanthropic organizations including International Media Support, the European Endowment for Democracy, and the Open Society Foundations. It also generates revenue through commissioned journalism, partnerships, and reader support. Daraj states that funders do not control its editorial decisions.
Analysis / Bias
Daraj demonstrates a moderate left-of-center and socially liberal perspective through its emphasis on women’s rights, minority rights, LGBTQ and gender issues, civil liberties, freedom of expression, environmental issues, and opposition to authoritarianism. Its own editorial mission explicitly prioritizes these areas, which produces a progressive social orientation. See its stated editorial priorities.
However, Daraj is not consistently aligned with one regional political faction. For example, The Airport Road and the Long Journey to Sovereignty strongly criticizes Hezbollah’s relationship with Iran and argues for Lebanese state sovereignty. Likewise, Hezbollah’s Media Machine: Who Pays the Price When the Promises Collapse? scrutinizes pro-Hezbollah media narratives and their impact on Lebanese audiences.
At the same time, Daraj is sharply critical of Israeli military actions and government policy. Evidence Without Accountability: Why Lebanon’s Case Against Israel Remains Stalled? examines legal avenues for holding Israel accountable for alleged war crimes in Lebanon, while also discussing the legal and political limitations of such cases. This combination suggests a rights-based and anti-authoritarian editorial orientation rather than consistent allegiance to one geopolitical camp.
Factual standards are strong. Daraj publishes named journalists, relies on interviews, legal documents, government records, financial records, firsthand testimony, and collaborative investigative projects, and frequently explains the evidentiary basis for its reporting. Although opinion pieces can use strong advocacy language, its investigative journalism generally distinguishes documented facts from commentary.
Failed Fact Checks
- None found from major fact-checking organizations within the last five years.
Overall, we rate Daraj Left-Center Biased based on its socially progressive, rights-focused editorial agenda and consistent emphasis on women, minorities, civil liberties, and anti-authoritarianism. We rate it High for factual reporting due to strong investigative sourcing, transparent leadership and funding, collaborative journalism, and a clean recent fact-check record. (D. Van Zandt 11/12/2026)
Source: https://daraj.media/
Last Updated on November 12, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources