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 appealing 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 Follow the Money (FTM) as Left-Center Biased due to its consistent focus on exposing corruption, authoritarianism, and corporate power from a pro-transparency perspective. It is rated High for factual reporting based on detailed sourcing, investigative rigor, and transparent funding practices.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER (-3.4)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.1)
Country: Netherlands
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: EXCELLENT
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Follow the Money (FTM) is an investigative journalism platform based in the Netherlands, established in 2010. The organization operates throughout Europe, focusing on uncovering corruption, financial misconduct, and abuses of power. FTM publishes content in both English and Dutch, with a focus on in-depth, evidence-based investigations that cover topics such as political influence, corporate lobbying, and financial transparency. The platform has an editorial office in Amsterdam and collaborates with cross-border investigative networks within the European Union.
Read our profile on the Netherlands media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
FTM is managed by Follow the Money BV and is primarily funded through member subscriptions and donations, without relying on advertising or sponsored content. The organization publishes its financial statements annually and indicates that all profits are reinvested into journalism. Additional revenue sources include grants and partnerships with European journalism funds, which FTM asserts do not impact editorial decisions.
Analysis / Bias
FTM is an independent watchdog organization dedicated to promoting accountability and transparency, with a particular focus on issues of corporate power, authoritarianism, and government corruption. Its investigations, including a pivotal report on press freedom in Serbia, assert a strong pro-democracy and pro-press-freedom stance, directly challenging President Aleksandar Vučić’s attempts to undermine media independence. This clearly aligns FTM with the liberal democratic and transparency values characteristic of a Left-Center perspective.
In another investigation, FTM exposed the alarming sale of European citizens’ health data to a U.S. firm with connections to Israeli intelligence, underscoring the dangers of foreign influence and inadequate protections around European data. The findings are backed by meticulous sourcing, including interviews, court documents, and insights from independent cybersecurity experts.
FTM’s analysis of radical-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders situates him within the broader European trend of nationalist populism, utilizing historical context and external sources to assess his political trajectory. While the reporting adopts a critical stance toward far-right movements, it remains firmly grounded in verifiable evidence.
FTM consistently frames its editorial stance with a healthy skepticism toward corporate and political power, steering clear of sensationalism and instead relying on solid documents, court records, and named sources. Its left-leaning bias is evident, driven by a commitment to social accountability, press freedom, and anti-authoritarianism, rather than any form of partisan advocacy.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Follow the Money (FTM) as Left-Center Biased due to its consistent focus on exposing corruption, authoritarianism, and corporate power from a pro-transparency perspective. It is rated High for factual reporting based on detailed sourcing, investigative rigor, and transparent funding practices. (D. Van Zandt 10/17/2025)
Source: https://www.ftm.eu/
Last Updated on October 17, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources