LEAST BIASED
These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appeals 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 the Stockton Polling Institute at the William J. Hughes Center as Least Biased based on modest Democratic-leaning polling bias and no editorial content. We also rate them as High Factual pollsters based on an A- rating in predictive polling.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED (-1.4)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.5)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
The Stockton Polling Institute operates within the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University in New Jersey. The Hughes Center is a nonpartisan public policy institute established in 2008 with Stockton’s first $1 million endowment. Its mission is to foster civic engagement, conduct public policy research, and facilitate informed discussions on key issues affecting New Jersey.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
The Hughes Center is part of Stockton University, a public institution of higher education. Funding comes from university support, donor contributions, and contracted research services for government agencies and private clients.
Analysis / Bias
The Stockton Polling Institute conducts independent public opinion polling on elections, policy, and political trends in New Jersey. It does not publish political commentary or general news reporting; instead, it releases survey findings and data summaries.
Polling bias is assessed using Silver Bulletin’s mean-reverted bias metric. For the Stockton Polling Institute, the mean-reverted polling bias is −0.84, indicating a Democratic lean. Under MBFC’s calibrated polling bias scale, a mean bias between 0.6 and 1.0 corresponds to a polling bias score of −2. Polling bias accounts for 70% of the final bias score, while editorial bias accounts for 30%.
Because the Institute does not publish ideological commentary or partisan analysis, editorial bias is assessed at 0.
Applying MBFC’s weighted formula:
(−2 × 0.70) + (0 × 0.30) = −1.4
Based on MBFC’s bias classification scale, a final score of −1.4 places the Stockton Polling Institute in the Least Biased category, reflecting modest Democratic-leaning polling bias without editorial influence.
Factual reporting is rated High based on a Silver Bulletin grade of A-, indicating strong historical accuracy and reliable methodological performance.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate the Stockton Polling Institute at the William J. Hughes Center as Least Biased based on modest Democratic-leaning polling bias and no editorial content. We also rate them as High Factual pollsters based on an A- rating in predictive polling. (D. Van Zandt 03/02/2026)
Source: https://stockton.edu/hughes-center/polling/index.html
Last Updated on March 2, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check
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