Nordic Monitor - Bias and Credibility

QUESTIONABLE SOURCE

A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for the purpose of profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be untrustworthy and should be fact-checked per article. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.

Overall, we rate The Nordic Research and Monitoring Network (Nordic Monitor) questionable based on story selection and editorial positions opposing Turkey’s right-leaning government. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing, promotion of propaganda, and a lack of transparency regarding ownership and funding.

Detailed Report

Reasoning: Lack of Transparency, Poor Sourcing, Propaganda
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: Sweden
Press Freedom Rank: EXCELLENT
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

The Nordic Research and Monitoring Network (Nordic Monitor) is a news website run by Abdullah Bozkurt, formerly Ankara Bureau Chief of the daily Today’ Zaman, which the Turkish Government shut down in 2016. BBC reports, “The paper was closely linked to the Hizmet movement of influential US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Turkey says is a terrorist.” Besides Bozkurt, other staff includes exiled Turkish journalists in Sweden, such as Levent Kenez and Murat Cetiner. The Nordic Monitor primarily reports on Turkey and is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

View our profile on Sweden’s government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

The Nordic Research and Monitoring Network (Nordic Monitor) does not disclose ownership or how they are funded, nor is there any evidence that the website generates revenue through advertising. In general, they lack transparency.

Analysis / Bias

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the president of Turkey. He is the leader of The Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkey’s ruling conservative political party. Learn more about Turkey’s government and media.

In review, the Nordic Monitor publishes articles critical of the Erdogan government with emotionally loaded language such as “Turkey has a plan for the invasion of Greece, secret documents reveal” and “Turkish Embassy in Washington spied on critical journalist, collected intel on him.” The Turkish journalist mentioned in the article is exiled journalist Emre Uslu who is accused of having close ties with the Gulen Movement.

When it comes to sourcing, they often hyperlink to themselves or use large quotes referring to “documents” they allegedly obtained. Almost every article mentions “confidential documents obtained by Nordic Monitor.” Further, they also utilize other Fethullah Gulen-linked websites such as The Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF) or their other anti-Turkey projects.

When covering world news pertaining to the USA, they rarely cover the Trump administration; however, when they do, it is always related to Turkey, such as “Former US envoy claims 40,000 ISIS fighters traveled to Syria via Turkey”. The Nordic Monitor generally has a very strong anti-Erdogan bias and promotes propaganda.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate The Nordic Research and Monitoring Network (Nordic Monitor) questionable based on story selection and editorial positions opposing Turkey’s right-leaning government. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing, promotion of propaganda, and a lack of transparency regarding ownership and funding. (M. Huitsing 6/18/2020) Updated (07/09/2022)

Source: https://www.nordicmonitor.com/

Last Updated on June 28, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check