LEAST BIASED
These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal 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 Sky News Least Biased based on balanced news coverage and a reasonably balanced op-ed page. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to a reasonable fact check record.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: United Kingdom
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: TV Station
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 1989 by Rupert Murdoch, Sky News is a British news organization, which operates a TV network of the same name, a radio news service, and distributes news through online channels. Sky News has sister outlets worldwide, such as Australia, Arabia, and Ireland. Sky News has won numerous awards, including in 2018, being named Royal Television Society News Channel of the Year, the eleventh time the channel had won the award.
Read our profile on UK’s Government and Media.
Funded by / Ownership
Sky News is owned by Comcast as of November 2018 and is funded through advertising. Rupert Murdoch is no longer affiliated with Sky News UK; however, Newscorp still has a share of Sky News Australia, which reports with a right-leaning bias.
Analysis / Bias
This review covers UK website content only. Sky News reports on the UK, World, Politics, US, Ocean Rescue, Science & Tech, Business, Ents & Arts, and Offbeat. Sky News utilizes moderate to minimally loaded language in headlines and articles like this: Climate change demos in London: Police face challenges dealing with protesters. In another article, there is the use of mild loaded language that covers both sides, May and Corbyn highlight persecution of Christians and refugee crisis in Easter messages. Like most on Sky News, this article does not provide hyperlinked sourcing but instead relies on quotes and first-person accounts. A review of the opinion page reflects mostly balanced coverage, with some clearly in favor of the left.
News reporting is generally balanced and low-biased, with op-eds having a slight lean left. Under Rupert Murdoch, Sky News was frequently accused of having a right-wing bias; however, the left-leaning New Statesman disagrees and concludes that Sky News is impartial. Further, a Reuters institute survey found that 54% of respondents trust their news coverage and 19% do not, ranking them #5 in trust of the major UK news providers.
Failed Fact Checks
Overall, we rate Sky News Least Biased based on balanced news coverage and a reasonably balanced op-ed page. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to a reasonable fact check record. (5/18/2016) Update (D. Van Zandt 3/23/2022)
Source: https://news.sky.com
Last Updated on August 8, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources