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.
- Overall, we rate Spotlight PA Least Biased based on balanced editorial positions and story selection. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.
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
Founded in 2019 by Christopher Baxter, who currently serves as editor-in-chief, Spotlight PA provides investigative journalism about the Pennsylvania government and urgent statewide issues. According to their Mission page “We are an independent watchdog unafraid to dig deep, fight for the truth and take on the powerful to expose wrongdoing and spur meaningful reform.
They further indicate on the website that they are powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune Review, and WITF Public Media.
In 2022, Spotlight PA won 10 journalism awards.
Read our profile on United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Spotlight PA is fully transparent in ownership and funding, stating they are a “grant-funded newsroom supported by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and more than a dozen other community foundations and individuals.” Spotlight PA was initially funded with a 20 million dollar grant is currently funded through donations.
Analysis / Bias
In review, Spotlight PA publishes investigative journalism for the state of Pennsylvania usually focusing on government issues. News stories reported by Spotlight PA are often published in major Pennsylvania media outlets such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Tribune, NPR, and many other smaller local newspapers. Articles and headlines typically do not contain loaded emotional wording such as this As thousands of unemployment claims expire, Pa. residents refile, wait on federal benefits, however, some are moderately emotional such as this A huge spike in Medicaid enrollment in Pa. shows how devastating the coronavirus has been. All stories reviewed were properly sourced.
Editorially, they don’t directly publish op-eds, however, most articles are related to politics. We reviewed numerous articles and found that they investigate both Republicans and Democrats for misdeeds or poor handling of situations. For example, here they are critical of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf Ballot questions should be clear, but two written by the Wolf administration don’t pass the test, and here Republicans President Trump invited Pa. lawmakers to the White House. Then everyone went silent. In general, the news is reported factually and with minimal editorial bias.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Spotlight PA Least Biased based on balanced editorial positions and story selection. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 3/25/2021) Updated (05/02/2022)
Source: https://www.spotlightpa.org/
Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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