NBC News – 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 appeals 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 NBC News Left-Center biased based on story selection and word choices that moderately favor the left and High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a reasonable fact check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: TV Station
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 1940, NBC News is the news division of the American broadcast television network NBC, formerly known as the National Broadcasting Company. The division operates under NBCUniversal News Group, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The President of NBC News is Noah Oppenheim.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

Comcast owns NBC with revenue derived through advertising.

Analysis / Bias

NBC News is what some call a mainstream media source. They typically publish/report factual news that uses moderately loaded words in headlines such as this: Trump threatens border security shutdown, GOP cool to idea. Story selection tends to favor the left through both wording and bias by omission, where they underreport some news stories that are favorable to the right. NBC always sources its information to credible sources that are either low biased or high for factual reporting.

A 2014 Pew Research Survey found that 42% of NBC News’ audience is consistently or primarily liberal, 39% Mixed, and 19% consistently or mostly conservative. A more liberal audience prefers NBC. Further, a Reuters institute survey found that 46% of respondents trust their news coverage and 35% do not, ranking them #5 in trust of the major USA news providers.

Failed Fact Checks

• The Golden State Warriors basketball team announced on 13 June 2017 that they had unanimously voted to skip a visit to the White House after winning the NBA Championship. – FALSE

Overall, we rate NBC News Left-Center biased based on story selection and word choices that moderately favor the left and High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a reasonable fact check record. (5/18/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 03/23/2022)

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/