RIGHT BIAS
These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information reporting that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate the Badger Institute Right Biased based on story selection that favors the right and policy stances that are conservative in nature. We also rate them mixed for factual reporting due to numerous failed fact checks before their name change to the Badger Institute in 2017 and a lack of transparency regarding funding.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Established in 1987, The Badger Institute, formerly the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, is a conservative think tank that produces research and analysis on tax policy, education, health care, and the economy. The Badger Institute states that they are guided by “a belief that competitive free markets, limited government, private initiative, and personal responsibility are essential to our democratic way of life.”
Tom Howatt is the Board Chairman, Mike Nichols is the President, and Mabel Wong is the editor. The Badger Institute publishes WI Magazine and WPRI Reports. The name of the WI magazine changed as well; the new name is Diggings.
They are headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
The Badger Institute is not required to disclose its funders. According to a Mother Jones article, WPRI (Badger Institute) is a State Policy Network (SPN) member. Further, according to Sourcewatch, the Badger Institute is funded by the Lovett and Ruth Peters Foundation, the Castle Rock Foundation, and the Bradley Foundation. The website lacks funding transparency; therefore, we rely on third-party information.
Analysis / Bias
In review, The Badger Institute publishes Pro-Trump articles with strong emotional language such as this: “The Age of Trump: View from a supporter Never Trumpers’ myopia keeps them from seeing the greater danger that a Clinton presidency would have created” and “Badger Institute: Federal Grants are turning states against their own people.
They also published a book arguing against the minimum wage, “Minimum Wage: The High Cost of Increasing Minimum Wage in Wisconsin to $15.” This book was then endorsed via conservative media such as the Washington Free Beacon and local Wisconsin media.
For the most part, they source from credible outlets such as The Washington Post, The Atlantic, BBC, USA Today, NPR, and government sources such as supremecourt.gov and less known sources such as constitution.org. When it comes to science, The Badger Institute does not reject human-influenced climate change, although they do support free-market solutions.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years; however, they failed numerous fact checks as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.
Overall, we rate the Badger Institute Right Biased based on story selection that favors the right and policy stances that are conservative in nature. We also rate them mixed for factual reporting due to numerous failed fact checks before their name change to the Badger Institute in 2017 and a lack of transparency regarding funding. (M. Huitsing 5/9/2019) Updated (11/25/2023)
Source: https://www.badgerinstitute.org/
Last Updated on November 25, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources