LEFT BIAS
These media sources are moderate to strongly biased toward liberal causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information reporting that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate Portside.org as left-biased based on its focus on labor, social justice, and progressive politics. We also rate its reporting as mostly factual due to the variable credibility of its sources.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT (-6.6)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (3.9)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Portside.org, launched in 2000, is a progressive news aggregator focusing on labor movements, social justice, and other progressive causes. The website curates content from various sources to present viewpoints aligned with its mission of promoting social justice and workers’ rights. Its tagline is “Material of Interest to People on the Left.” Portside is based in New York, NY,
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Portside is funded through donations and free of advertising. It operates as a volunteer-based organization with no formal ownership. The platform relies on the support of its community to sustain its operations.
Analysis / Bias
Portside.org demonstrates a strong progressive bias, focusing on labor issues, social justice, and progressive politics. It curates content from Common Dreams, Jacobin, The Guardian, Labor Notes, and the Roosevelt Institute, emphasizing environmental justice, labor rights, and economic inequality. The platform, driven by volunteers, also publishes original content, promoting a grassroots approach and relying on reader contributions.
For example, the article “Right-Wing Network Is Manufacturing a War Against Higher Education,” curated from the Center for Media and Democracy, discusses the influence of right-wing organizations on higher education. The article discusses a coordinated right-wing effort to undermine higher education in the U.S. involving wealthy elites, think tanks, and Republican politicians. It highlights legislation restricting academic freedom and altering university governance, fueled by a backlash against movements like Black Lives Matter. The campaign seeks to delegitimize and defund public institutions, with key funding from donor-advised funds linked to the State Policy Network and Project 2025. It uses emotive language to emphasize the perceived threats to higher education and the need for progressive resistance. The sources cited include the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and the American Association of University Professors’ “Manufacturing Backlash” report, providing a credible basis for its arguments.
Another article, curated from Common Dreams, “Land Theft Continues as Israel Announces Biggest West Bank Seizure in Over 30 Years,” covers the Israeli government’s announcement of a significant land seizure in the West Bank. The piece emphasizes the impact on Palestinian communities and frames the event as part of a broader pattern of land theft and occupation. The article cites government reports, such as Yafit2Heb, international media like The Guardian, and organizations such as IMEU, ensuring the credibility of its sources.
Portside.org also publishes original content, adding its perspective to the curated material. One example is an article titled “The Challenge to the Left in 2024” by Portside moderators. This piece discusses the political landscape, emphasizing the threats posed by authoritarian movements and the importance of a multiracial, democratic vision to counter these challenges. It reflects Portside’s commitment to exploring strategic thinking and mobilizing grassroots movements for systemic change.
Typically, Portside.org has a strong progressive bias, focusing on labor, social justice, and progressive politics. It emphasizes the struggles of marginalized groups and promotes a progressive agenda. While Portside.org primarily aggregates content from other sources, focusing on curation rather than original reporting, generally uses credible sources, and provides hyperlinks to support its content, the factual accuracy of these sources can vary depending on the sites they curate from.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Portside.org as left-biased based on its focus on labor, social justice, and progressive politics. We also rate its reporting as mostly factual due to the variable credibility of its sources. (07/04/2024) Updated (05/02/2025)
Source: https://portside.org/
Last Updated on May 2, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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