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 profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. 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 Realitatea.net as right-biased and questionable based on the promotion of propaganda and a track record of publishing misleading information and poor sourcing practices.
Detailed Report
Questionable Reasoning: Conspiracy Theories, Propaganda, Poor Sources, Misinformation
Bias Rating: FAR RIGHT (7.9)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (6.2)
Country: Romania
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Realitatea TV, the predecessor of Realitatea Plus, was launched on November 7, 2001, as Romania’s first all-news television channel. Over the years, it became a key source of breaking news, covering politics, social issues, health, justice, and international affairs. In 2011, the channel faced insolvency, leading to a shift in ownership. By 2013, it was acquired by Romanian politician Cozmin Gușă and businessman Maricel Păcuraru. Due to bankruptcy issues, Realitatea TV ceased operations on October 30, 2019, and was replaced by Realitatea Plus on November 1, 2019. Today, Realitatea.net continues to deliver real-time news, live events, and in-depth coverage.
Read our profile on Romanian media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
Realitatea Plus is owned by Geopol International SRL, a company established by Cozmin Gușă, a Romanian politician and media consultant. Gușă has had a shifting political career, initially serving as the general secretary of the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) before moving to the center-right Democratic Party (PD) and later founding the nationalist-populist National Initiative Party (PIN). Under his leadership, Realitatea Plus continues to operate as a major news channel, replacing Realitatea TV in 2019 after its insolvency. The channel is primarily funded through advertising revenue and media partnerships while maintaining its focus on domestic and international news coverage.
Analysis / Bias
Realitatea.net covers a broad range of political and justice-related topics, often focusing on government actions, corruption cases, and legal proceedings. The platform includes statements from multiple political actors, covering both ruling and opposition parties. However, a noticeable pattern emerges in the use of emotionally charged language and subjective framing, particularly when addressing government decisions and judicial matters: Bombshell on the political scene. One of the Coalition leaders calls for Klaus Iohannis’ resignation. This story, like others, does not provide sourcing from external sources.
A review of their political coverage indicates a critical stance towards certain government officials and policies, often using irony or strong language to frame narratives. This suggests an inclination towards right-leaning populism, as the outlet emphasizes government failures and corruption, a common theme in right-wing populist discourse: Boundless audacity of the illegitimate pharaoh Iohannis. He talks about democracy and the rule of law, while clinging to the position he illegally occupies. What did he convey to the heads of the SIE?
Similarly, their justice coverage frequently highlights corruption cases and judicial investigations, sometimes using terms like “puppeteers” and “manipulation,” which indicate skepticism towards certain political or institutional actors. This aligns with right-leaning anti-establishment rhetoric, often found in media skeptical of mainstream governance and judicial structures.
The website also publishes misinformation related to the Covid-19 vaccine like this: A study on the effects of the anti-COVID vaccine shocked the medical world: 610% increase in the risk of myocarditis. While the study did report an increase in the relative risk of myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, the absolute risk remains low, and the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks.
These findings show Realitatea.net exhibits a Right bias, with tendencies towards populist and anti-establishment narratives. While they provide diverse coverage, their editorial tone suggests a preference for right-leaning perspectives, particularly when discussing government oversight and corruption.
Failed Fact Check
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Realitatea.net as right-biased and questionable based on the promotion of propaganda and a track record of publishing misleading information and poor sourcing practices. (D. Van Zandt 02/13/2025)
Source: https://www.realitatea.net/
Last Updated on February 13, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources