Fake Hate Crimes - Bias and Credibility

RIGHT BIAS

These media sources are moderately 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. See all Right Bias sources.

Overall, we rate Fake Hate Crimes Right Biased based on story selection and information that appeals to the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to a lack of transparency and the occasional use of poor-quality sources.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2012, Fake Hate Crimes is a website that lists fake hate crimes with hyperlinks to news articles in database format. It builds on the work of Laird Wilcox, whose Crying Wolf (PDF) is the original book on this subject. The site does not have a proper about page but states its purpose is “to compile a comprehensive database of the false reports of “hate crimes” committed (mostly) in the USA.”

Laird Wilcox is an American researcher specializing in studying political fringe movements. In his self-published book Watchdogs, Wilcox asserts that groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League, Political Research Associates, and the Center for Democratic Renewal collect millions of dollars by greatly exaggerating the size and danger of such groups, becoming “a massive extortion racket.”

Read our country media profile of the USA.

Funded by / Ownership

Fake Hate Crimes does not state ownership on the website, and there does not appear to be a revenue model.

Analysis / Bias

In review, the website lists, in a table format, supposed fake hate crimes committed mostly in the USA. Column one displays the Fake News Report’s summary, column two provides an external link to the source of the story, usually a mainstream media source. The third column is a repeat of the first with a short summary. In reviewing the links provided, most do source to credible high factual media outlets; however, there are some that do not. For example, this story comes from the extreme right-wing conspiracy website Infowars: ‘WHITE SUPREMACIST’ SHOOTING OF 7-YEAR-OLD BLACK GIRL; GUNMAN TURNS OUT TO BE BLACK. This story is true, but Infowars is typically not factual. Fake Hate Crimes also source the factually mixed and right-biased Daily Wire and Daily Caller and questionable sources such as Breitbart and the Daily Mail, all of which have poor track records with fact-checkers. Generally, the stories on Fake Hate Crimes tend to be true and stick to their mission of reporting only on fake hate crimes.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate Fake Hate Crimes Right Biased based on story selection and information that appeals to the right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to a lack of transparency and the occasional use of poor-quality sources. (D. Van Zandt 3/22/2019) Updated (10/20/2022)

Source: http://fakehatecrimes.org

Last Updated on May 24, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check