The Sydney Morning Herald – Bias and Credibility

These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias.  They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes.  These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

• Overall, we rate The Sydney Morning Herald Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: Australia
Press Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Newspaper
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia and a national online news brand. The print version of the newspaper is published six days a week. The current editor is Lisa Davies.

Read our profile on Australia’s Media and Government.

Funded by / Ownership

The Sydney Morning Herald is owned by Nine Entertainment, which is an Australian publicly listed media company. Nine owns several TV channels as well as new organizations such as The Age and 9news. Advertising and subscription fees generate revenue.

Analysis / Bias

In review, The Sydney Morning Herald covers news within the Sydney area through journalists and with minimally loaded language such as this: Strong winds fanning out-of-control NSW bushfires expected to continue. This story is appropriately sourced to video and first-person accounting. World News is also covered via original writing from journalists such as this: Senior judge admonishes Johnson over no-deal Brexit ‘loophole’ ploy. The paper also features a section dedicated to politics that maintains a reasonable centrist tone: Federal MPs rally behind Hong Kong protests in push back against China.

Editorially, the SMH has a long history of endorsing various candidates from both the left and right. However, recently in 2007 and 2010, they endorsed the Center-Left Labor party, and in 2016, they endorsed USA Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Finally, in 2019 they endorsed Bill Shorten of the Labor Party. Further, the editorial page tends to lean left with op-eds supporting gender equality and opposing drug testing for welfare recipients. In general, SMH reports news factually and with minimal bias, while editorial positions lean slightly left.

Finally, a Reuters institute survey found that 53% of respondents trust their news coverage and 17% do not, ranking them #9 in trust of the major Australian news providers.

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate The Sydney Morning Herald Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the left. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 7/29/2016) Updated (03/23/2022)

Source: https://www.smh.com.au