RIGHT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources are slight to moderately conservative in bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals 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 KATU.com slightly Right-Center Biased based on editorial positions and High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: TV Station
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Launched in 1962, KATU-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Portland, Oregon, United States. KATU.com is the associated website that reports on news, sports, weather, entertainment, and crime for the greater Portland area.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
KATU-TV is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which is a publicly-traded American telecommunications company that is controlled by the family of company founder Julian Sinclair Smith. The company is the largest television station operator in the United States by the number of stations, and largest by total coverage; owning or operating a total of 193 stations across the country in over 100 markets (covering 40% of American households), many of which are located in the South and Midwest.
Sinclair has been scrutinized by multiple media outlets for consistently favoring conservative politics. They are considered a rival to right biased Fox News for the conservative audience. The Seattle Times has written a piece documenting Sinclair’s right-leaning bias. Further, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (Open Secrets), the Sinclair Broadcast Group has donated approximately 80% to Republican candidates since 1994.
Finally, in March 2018, Sinclair ordered its stations to produce promos with an “anchor delivered journalistic responsibility message” dictated by the company. The wording of the mandated script was criticized by some station news staff and outside pundits for its discussion of “fake news,” with some critics arguing that the message used similar language and rhetoric to Donald Trump. Trump responded to the promos on April 2, 2018, defending the company as being “far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke.”
Advertising generates revenue.
Analysis / Bias
In review, Katu.com reports local news on the website with minimal bias such as this: Crews in Mosier Creek Fire fight brace for triple-digit temperatures. National and World news is syndicated through the Associated Press. Editorially, op-eds tend to favor the right, with minimal criticism of President Trump: Exclusive: Trump says public will ‘fall out of love’ with Harris. Other opinion-based commentary tends to lean slightly right, though there is a reasonable balance. In general, KATU.com reports news accurately and with minimal bias.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate KATU.com slightly Right-Center Biased based on editorial positions and High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 08/15/2020) Updated (06/13/2022)
Source: https://katu.com/
Last Updated on May 26, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
Do you appreciate our work? Please consider one of the following ways to sustain us.
or
Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources