RIGHT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources are slightly to moderately conservative in 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 conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) Right-Center biased based on story selection and editorial positions that slightly favor the right. We also rate them Mostly Factual for reporting due to poor sourcing techniques and sensationalism.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: Belgium
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Newspaper
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Launched in 1888, the Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) is a Dutch-language Belgian print and online newspaper based in Antwerp, Belgium. The paper was founded by Julius Hoste Sr. Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) main focus is sports news, celebrity gossip, crime stories, and political analysis. Isabel Albers and Dimitri Antonissen is the editor-in-chief of Het Laatste Nieuws.
Read our profile on Belgium media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) is owned by DPG Media (formerly Medialaan-De Persgroep Publishing) which is owned by the Van Thillo family. Erik Roddenhof is the new CEO of DPG Media. Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) revenue is derived from subscriptions and advertising.
Analysis / Bias
In 2021, Reporters Without Borders ranked Belgium 11/180 in their Press Freedom Index. The Prime Minister of Belgium is Alexander De Croo who leans center-right (The coalition government consists of Liberals, Socialists, and Greens)
In review, Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) site contains big pictures and publishes news in a tabloid-style. For example, they use emotionally loaded wording in their headlines such as “Laura (30) has known for a year that she has HIV: “Even my doctor said: do you have such a wild sex life?” It also provides breaking news, for example, first they reported with the headline “Police shut down sex party in Brussels: Member of the European Parliament also present.” Then in the same story, they reported with the headline “Hungarian MEP resigns after attending sex party in Brussels.” When it comes to sourcing they provide circular links so that the same story is linked to this story “Hungarian MEP surprisingly resigns”. In other words, they do not source well to outside media outlets.
Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) reports political news in a neutral tone such as this “Vlaams Belang puts Carrera Neefs out of the party after her controversial visit to SS’er’s grave“. In a study The political orientation of the readers according to a research article published by Open Access publisher Cogitatio “trust in Het Laatste Nieuws is significantly lower amongst left-wing citizens.” Another article titled ‘Fake news’ and online disinformation Case study – Belgium” by the Institute for Information Law (IViR) Amsterdam Law School states that Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) has been referred to as one of the Flemish news media sites which regularly publishes “misleading or inaccurate news articles.”
When it comes to sourcing HLN.be utilizes Belga (Belgium news agency) and national sources such as Dag Allemaal (family magazine). HLN is the digital partner of VTM Nieuws (Flemish television network VTM). HTL also launched in April 2020, which is a 24/7 live news video stream in Flanders (HLN LIVE). When reporting on USA news they generally rely on the Associated Press such as this US Attorney General: “No Evidence of Fraud That Would Change Election Outcome”. In general, news reporting is mostly factual, however, some stories are poorly sourced, sensationalized, and sometimes misleading.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) Right-Center biased based on story selection and editorial positions that slightly favor the right. We also rate them Mostly Factual for reporting due to poor sourcing techniques and sensationalism. (M. Huitsing 12/1/2020) Updated (04/12/2022)
Source: https://www.hln.be/
Last Updated on May 24, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources