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.
- The Tico Times is a high-factuality, English-language Costa Rican news outlet that provides balanced, international, and local reporting. With minor left-leaning tendencies in environmental reporting and solid transparency in authorship but limited ownership details, it earns a “Least Biased” to “Slight Left” rating and is a reliable news source for regional developments and expatriate issues.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED (-1.8)
Factual Reporting: HIGH (1.0)
Country: Costa Rica
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
The Tico Times is an English-language digital news outlet based in Costa Rica, originally founded in 1956 by U.S. high school students and teachers. After briefly ceasing print publication in 2012, it transitioned to an online format and continues to serve English-speaking readers interested in Costa Rican and Central American news. The site provides a wide range of coverage including politics, the environment, travel, and expat life, as detailed on its About page.
Read our profile on Costa Rica’s government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
The Tico Times is independently owned and supported by reader contributions through donations. It does not rely heavily on advertising, and although author names are present, full details on editorial leadership or financial structure are not fully disclosed, reflecting a moderate level of transparency.
Analysis / Bias
The site primarily publishes straightforward news articles with minimal emotional language and little visible editorializing. Its local reporting covers issues like press freedom in Costa Rica’s courts, presented in a neutral and fact-based manner.
Regional coverage includes geopolitical developments, such as joint U.S.-Panamanian military exercises, with balanced sourcing. The Expat Life section examines legal reforms affecting foreigners, employing measured language and presenting multiple perspectives.
Although the site does not maintain a dedicated opinion section, slight progressive leanings are evident in its environmental tone. For instance, the article on Costa Rica’s ocean forecasting system employs language sympathetic to conservation and sustainability, a hallmark of mild, left-leaning environmental framing. Overall, the site avoids ideological rhetoric and generally presents information with high factual integrity.
Failed Fact Check
- There are no known failed fact checks from third-party organizations.
The Tico Times is a high-factuality, English-language Costa Rican news outlet that provides balanced, international, and local reporting. With minor left-leaning tendencies in environmental reporting and solid transparency in authorship but limited ownership details, it earns a “Least Biased” to “Slight Left” rating and is a reliable news source for regional developments and expatriate issues. (D. Van Zandt (06/07/2025)
Source: https://ticotimes.net/
Last Updated on June 7, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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