Helsinki Times – Bias and Credibility

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 the Helsinki Times Left-Center Biased based on story selection that slightly favors the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: Finland
Press Freedom Rating: EXCELLENT
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2007, the Helsinki Times is a tabloid-format English-language online news site based in Helsinki, Finland. The Helsinki Times was formerly a once-a-week print magazine that ended in 2015. The website focuses mainly on national and international news coverage, as well as politics, sports, events, eat and drink, and entertainment news. The Helsinki Times readership is geared toward Expats, immigrants, and diplomats stationed in Finland. The Editor-in-Chief is Alexis Kouros. 

Read our profile on Finland’s Government and Media.

Funded by / Ownership

The Helsinki Times is owned by Iranian-Finnish writer, director, and producer Alexis Kouros through his media company Dreamcatcher. The Helsinki Times states its publisher as ABYZ OÜ, with revenue derived from subscriptions and advertisements.

Analysis / Bias

In review, The Helsinki Times uses minimally emotionally loaded language when covering national politics, such as, “Centre, Swedish People’s Party at odds over mechanism for migrants in Mediterranean.” They also use neutral language when covering nationalistic, populist right-wing party leader Halla-aho, “Halla-aho: “Is foreigners’ security taking precedence over that of Finns?”” Further, when reporting on immigration-related news, they use a positive tone such as this, “Study: Firms owned by immigrants create more jobs than those owned by native-born Finns”
When covering global warming they have published misleading information such as this:  “Finnish Scientists: Effect of human activity on climate change insignificant.” According to IFCN fact checker Climate Feedback this report is Incorrect. However, they do link to the Climate Feedback report, offering balance.

When it comes to sourcing the Helsinki Times utilizes domestic sources that are unknown to us, such as Uusi Suomi, as well as credible sources such as the Institute of the Finnish Economy (etla.fi), Helsingin Sanomat, Washington Post, and BBC. News coverage of the United States uses strong, emotionally loaded language, “Did Trump tweet throughout his entire meeting with Niinistö?”

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate the Helsinki Times Left-Center Biased based on story selection that slightly favors the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. (8/14/2016) Updated (M. Huitsing 12/16/2022)

Source: https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/