LEFT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources have a slight to moderate progressive/liberal 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 progressive/liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate the National Catholic Reporter as left-center biased and Mostly Factual due to its progressive stance on social justice, environmental issues, and church reform, along with occasional inconsistent sourcing.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) is a lay-led Catholic news organization founded in 1964. NCR is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and provides news and analysis pertaining to the Catholic Church, social justice, politics, and culture. It aspires to provide a platform for diverse voices within the Catholic community and beyond, promoting open dialogue and discussion on critical issues facing the church and society. ”Lay-led’ means that the organization is managed by laypeople rather than clergy, emphasizing its independence from church authorities. Joe Ferullo is the NCR CEO/Publisher.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
NCR operates as a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, which means it does not have traditional ownership. Instead, it is led by a board of directors. It is funded through subscriptions, donations, grants, and advertising revenue.
Analysis / Bias
The organization emphasizes its independence from church authorities, allowing it to cover controversial topics without ecclesiastical interference. The National Catholic Reporter is generally considered to have a left-center bias. This assessment is based on its editorial stance, often advocating for progressive positions on social justice, environmental issues, and church reform.
Rooted in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, NCR’s core values include social justice, human dignity, and inclusiveness. For example, the article “Pope Urges Global Leaders, U.S. Governors to Take Urgent Climate Action” uses strong language to emphasize the urgency of climate action, reflecting a bias towards environmental activism. The article is well-sourced, quoting Pope Francis directly and including statements from various leaders such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. This supports the article’s credibility and aligns with NCR’s commitment to factual reporting and thorough sourcing.
Another article, “Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire again threatens Commonweal over article about Trumpism,” covers the legal threats made by Bishop Robert Barron’s organization against Commonweal magazine, demonstrating NCR’s focus on transparency and accountability within the church. Additionally, the article “Webcomic Probes U.S. Catholic Stories of Race, resistance and Social Justice” further illustrates NCR’s focus on inclusiveness and human dignity by highlighting stories of racial justice and resistance within the Catholic community. The webcomic “Bad Catholics, Good Trouble” explores historical and contemporary race and social justice issues. The article cites sources such as Wikipedia. Additionally, the article “New documentary ‘Your Fat Friend’ discusses body image and acceptance issues, incorporating Bible quotes and religious references to support its arguments. While meaningful to its audience, it may not be considered standard credible sources in journalistic practice.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate the National Catholic Reporter as left-center biased and Mostly Factual due to its progressive stance on social justice, environmental issues, and church reform, along with occasional inconsistent sourcing. (M. Huitsing 05/19/2024)
Source: https://www.ncronline.org/
Last Updated on May 19, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources