LEFT BIAS
These media sources are moderate to strongly biased toward liberal causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate The Local as Left-Biased due to its consistent focus on social equity, systemic urban issues, and policy reform. We also rate its reporting as High for factual accuracy based on editorial transparency and good sourcing practices.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT (-6.0)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.8)
Country: Canada
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
The Local is a nonprofit online magazine based in Toronto, Canada. It focuses on urban health and social issues, publishing four quarterly issues annually along with regular features and investigations. The publication covers housing, transit, climate, education, labor, and public health topics. It positions itself as filling a gap left by traditional media, aiming to report from underrepresented communities and address systemic challenges in the city. The publication operates under the legal name The Local TO Publishing.
Read our profile on the Canadian government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
The Local is a nonprofit publication and a Registered Journalism Organization in Canada. It maintains full editorial independence from its funding sources and publicly lists all donors who contribute over $5,000 annually. According to its Code of Ethics, The Local receives financial support from various philanthropic foundations and individual donors. Recent multi-year funders include the Atkinson Foundation, Inspirit Foundation, Metcalf Foundation, SE Health, Toronto Foundation, United Way Greater Toronto, Wellesley Institute, and YMCA of Greater Toronto. One-time supporters include the Maytree Foundation, the Canadian Periodical Fund (Government of Canada), and others.
The publication does not currently accept advertising or sponsored content and affirms that all editorial decisions are made independently of funders. The Local is also a member of the Press Forward network, a coalition supporting independent and nonprofit journalism in Canada.
Analysis / Bias
The Local provides reporting through a progressive and urban-focused perspective, emphasizing systemic inequality and prioritizing the voices of marginalized communities. Its journalism highlights social determinants across housing, labor, and immigration while maintaining a professional tone and strong sourcing practices. In “In Ontario’s Housing Crisis, Immigrants Are the Scapegoat and the Solution,” the magazine critiques federal immigration cuts by showing how temporary workers sustain the construction sector, citing academic studies, government data, and CBC and NYT reporting.
Another article titled “Young, Broke, and Unwoke,” discusses the rise of youth support for the Conservative Party, portraying Pierre Poilievre’s appeal as rooted in cultural grievance and online radicalization. The piece notes that some young voters are shifting back to the Liberals under Prime Minister Mark Carney, citing his economic credibility as a reason for renewed support. This favorable framing of Carney contrasts with its more critical portrayal of Poilievre and reflects the publication’s progressive editorial stance.
While The Local typically does not present opposing ideological views in equal weight, it maintains transparency about its funding, hyperlinks sources, and discloses when coverage is supported by external grants. Overall, its framing supports social policy reform and equity-focused governance.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate The Local as Left-Biased due to its consistent focus on social equity, systemic urban issues, and policy reform. We also rate its reporting as High for factual accuracy based on editorial transparency and good sourcing practices. (M. Huitsing 05/10/2025)
Source: https://thelocal.to/
Last Updated on May 10, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources