A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing of credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be untrustworthy and should be fact-checked per article. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources. Reasoning: Extreme Right, Poor Sourcing, Propaganda, Hate Group
QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: FAR RIGHT
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITYHistory
Founded in 2004, Discover the Networks (originally Discover the Network) is a website run by the David Horowitz Freedom Center that focuses on the individuals, groups, and history of groups alleged to be politically left-wing. The David Horowitz Freedom Center is also labeled as an anti-Islamist propaganda source by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The current editor is David Horowitz and is related to the Questionable FrontPage Magazine.
According to their about page, “This website is a “Guide to the Political Left.” It identifies the individuals and organizations that make up the left and also the institutions that fund and sustain the left; it maps the paths through which the left exerts its influence on the larger body politic; it defines the left’s (often hidden) programmatic agendas, and it provides an understanding of the left’s history and ideas.”
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Discover the Networks is a project of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, which is funded through donations. They have received significant funding, nearly 9 million dollars, from the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, according to documents reviewed by CMD. Additional funders of his projects include the Scaife and Cathrage Foundations.
Analysis / Bias
In review, Discover the Networks is comprised of a search engine for profiles of individuals, organizations, and institutions. The search engine also scans for articles related to their primary causes, such as anti-immigration, anti-socialism, and communism, as well as pro-capitalist and anti-labor unions. Put another way; they support strong Paleoconservatism. Most information focuses on Islam negatively, such as profiling those they believe support terrorism or antisemitism, even US politicians such as Keith Ellison. The website also features an “In the News” section, which reports negatively on liberals such as this, which links to the questionable Breitbart Rev. Al: Dangerous Trump ‘Cult Worshippers’ Running the Govt.
Editorially, Discover the Networks editor David Horowitz has been described as a driving force of the anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and anti-black movements. Media Bias Fact Check does not determine hate group status and relies on third-party information. According to the SPLC, Horowtiz is an “Anti-Muslim fanatic.”
Failed Fact Checks
Overall, we rate Discover the Networks far-right in bias and Questionable due to the use of poor sources, the promotion of propaganda related to Islam, the use of poor sources, and third-party designation as a potential hate group. (10/21/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 09/02/2022)
Source: https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/
Last Updated on May 22, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources
