Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) - Bias and Credibility

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 SANA as Left-Biased and questionable based on its promotion of pro-government propaganda, censorship, reliance on internal sources, and several failed fact checks.

Detailed Report

Questionable Reasoning: Propaganda, Censorship, Poor Sourcing, Failed Fact Checks
Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: Syria
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: TOTAL OPPRESSION
Media Type: News Agency
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY

History

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) was established in 1965 and is Syria’s official state news agency. Operating under the Ministry of Information, SANA produces news in several languages. As an active member of international media organizations, including the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) and Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN), the agency promotes Syria’s national interests and supports Arab and Islamic causes. SANA is headquartered in Damascus.

Read our profile on Syria’s media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

SANA is owned and operated by the Syrian government, which functions as its official news outlet. Its funding is derived from state resources.

Analysis / Bias

SANA provides information that reflects the perspectives of the state. As a state-controlled agency, SANA’s reporting often emphasizes official state actions, prominently featuring presidential decrees and government appointments. For example, recent coverage includes President al-Assad appointing new governors for Syrian provinces, forming a new Cabinet, and naming a new vice president.

Coverage often emphasizes government achievements and perspectives while downplaying dissenting views. For instance, international relations and domestic policy reports indicate the government’s stance. SANA also emphasizes humanitarian efforts that align with government priorities, such as a recent article discussing NGOs that provide support to individuals arriving from Lebanon. This reflects SANA’s tendency to portray the government positively, particularly in humanitarian contexts, and aligns with its broader focus on emphasizing state-supported achievements and initiatives.

Additionally, SANA’s coverage of regional conflicts, such as a recent report on an alleged Israeli attack in Homs, demonstrates its reliance on in-house sources without external verification. The article referenced information from a “SANA reporter” and included photos that appeared to be taken by the agency’s personnel, with no third-party attribution or corroborating evidence. This internal sourcing and use of emotionally loaded language like “Israeli enemy” reflect a strong editorial tone aligned with government narratives, especially in conflict coverage.

Failed Fact Checks

Overall, we rate SANA as Left-Biased and questionable based on its promotion of pro-government propaganda, censorship, reliance on internal sources, and several failed fact checks. (M. Huitsing 11/02/2024)

Source: https://sana.sy/en/

Last Updated on November 2, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check