James Randi Educational Foundation – Bias and Credibility

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• Overall, we rate The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Pro-Science and Very-High factual for supporting evidence-based science and skepticism.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: PRO-SCIENCE
Factual Reporting: VERY HIGH
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) was started as an American non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF’s mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims and supporting research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions.

The organization administered the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, which offered a prize of one million U.S. dollars to anyone who could demonstrate a supernatural or paranormal ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. The award has never been given out to date.

On 10/21/2020 James Randi passed away, but the website and foundation continue on.

Read our profile on United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is funded through donations until 2016. They no longer accept donations and serve as a grant giver.

Analysis / Bias

In review, The James Randi Educational Foundation primarily serves as a grant-making foundation in 2021. They make grants of up to $100K per year to non-profit groups that they believe are promoting activities that encourage critical thinking and a fact-based world view. Currently, the website only displays news about the foundation such as this 2022 JREF Award. In general, the website is idle, but JREF is still giving out grants to pro-science nonprofits.

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Pro-Science and Very-High factual for supporting evidence-based science and skepticism. (D. Van Zandt 1/19/2017) Updated (02/21/2024)

Source: https://web.randi.org/