These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias.  They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes.  These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

• Overall, we rate Der Speigel Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: Germany
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Spiegel Online (Der Spiegel) is one of the most widely read German-language news Websites. It was founded in 1994 as the Web offspring of the German news magazine, Der Spiegel, with a staff of journalists independent from the magazine. Today, Spiegel Online is the most frequently quoted online media product in Germany. Spiegel Online International, an English section featuring articles translated into English, was launched in autumn 2004.

On 12/23/2018 a Der Speigel reporter was fired for writing fake news. They have taken extensive measures to correct the problem.

Read our profile on Germany’s media and government

Funded by / Ownership

Spiegel Online is owned by Spiegel Mitarbeiter. Revenue is derived through advertising and subscription fees.

Analysis / Bias

In review, Spiegel Online (Der Spiegel) covers a wide range of news from politics, sports, business to tech and science. Articles and headlines feature moderately loaded wording such as this Monitoring the Right Wing German Officials Seek to Turn up the Heat on the AfD. Articles are written by reporters and often feature investigations and first-person accounts.

Editorially, there is a reasonable balance between right and left, however, in our review more favored the left with features called “Climate Crisis.” In general, the news is reported factually and with a left-leaning editorial bias.

Failed Fact Checks

• None since fake news scandal

Overall, we rate Der Speigel Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. (D. Van Zandt 2/7/2017) Updated (07/30/2023)

Source: https://www.spiegel.de/