On The Issues – Bias and Credibility

These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes).  The reporting is factual and usually sourced.  These are the most credible media sources. See all Least Biased Sources.

• Overall, we rate On The Issues as Least Biased based on their comprehensive coverage of political positions without evident favoritism. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to their reliance on direct quotes and voting records of politicians.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

On The Issues is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1996 by Jesse Gordon. Currently, he serves as editor-in-chief & content manager. On the Issues provides a comprehensive database of the political positions and voting records of political candidates and elected officials. The information is gathered from public statements, voting records, book reviews, and interviews. The website does not have a traditional “About Us” page but provides information about its mission and methodology on its archive page. The organization is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

On The Issues operates as a not-for-profit organization, with volunteers contributing to its operations. They generate revenue through donations and advertising, stating, “Our advertisers partially offset our cash expenses.” While the site does not disclose specific details about its ownership, external sources suggest that Naomi Lichtenberg is the owner and CEO of On The Issues.

Analysis / Bias

On The Issues provides a platform to inform voters about politicians’ stances on various issues. They rely heavily on direct quotes and their voting records; For instance, they quote Republican Presidential Candidate Perry Johnson “saying, “Number three, you may not like this, but I’m getting rid of the Department of Education.” However, the selection of quotes and the framing of issues can introduce subtle biases. For example, emphasizing certain issues over others or choosing specific quotes can influence readers’ perceptions. But overall, the site generally maintains a balanced presentation. They attribute sources, as seen with the quote from Johnson from the Iowa Capital Dispatch. However, it’s worth noting that some of the internal links provided for further information are broken.

In general, On The Issues is fact-based and presents information with minimal bias.

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate On The Issues as Least Biased based on their comprehensive coverage of political positions without evident favoritism. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to their reliance on direct quotes and voting records of politicians. (M. Huitsing 08/02/2023)

Source: https://www.ontheissues.org/