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 the purpose of 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 ToddStarnes.com Far-Right Biased and Questionable based on poor sourcing, promotion of conspiracies and propaganda, lack of transparency, and numerous failed fact checks.
Detailed Report
Reasoning: Extreme Right, Poor Sourcing, Lack of Transparency, Conspiracy, Propaganda, Failed Fact Checks
Country: USA
World Press Freedom Rank: USA 45/180
History
Founded in 2003, ToddStarnes.com is the conservative opinion and news website for commentator and writer Todd Starnes. In the early 2000s Mr. Starnes was employed by Baptist Press and in 2019 was released from his contract with Fox News after controversial comments. He currently is a radio show host in Tennessee.
The website lacks transparency as they do not have an about page or indicate that the editorial direction of the website is conservative.
Read our profile on United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
ToddStarnes.com is owned by Starnes Media Group LLC, which is owned by Todd Starnes. Revenue is derived through advertising and a web store that sells Starnes related merchandise.
Analysis / Bias
In review, ToddStarnes.com publishes his radio program as well as news and commentary from a hyperpartisan conservative perspective. Many news stories contain audio clips from the radio program. Articles and headlines frequently contain loaded emotional language such as this: Bush, Romney & Powell Don’t Want to Make America Great Again and this Massachusetts AG Slammed for Comparing Bloody Riots to Wildfires. When it comes to sourcing information, many stories are unsourced and rely on audio clips from the Todd Starnes radio program.
Editorially, the website has a section for opinion pieces that always favors the right and denigrates the left such as this: LEFTIST TEARS: CNN’s Brian Stelter Wants You to Know He Crawled into Bed and Cried During Pandemic Meltdown and this FREEDOM! President Trump Calls For the Liberation of Virginia, Minnesota & Michigan. They also promote conspiracy theories such as discussing how some people who associated with the Clintons die tragically: Bill and Hillary Clinton Sure Do Know A Lot of People Who Died Tragically. A quote from the story states “almost 50 people who have either died from suicide or in some sort of a tragic accident and they’re all closely connected to the Clintons. What do we make of this? Coincidence or is there something more nefarious going on here?” In general, story selection almost always favors the right with stories promoting propaganda to denigrate the left such as this: Fake Newsers Are A Bunch Of No-Good, Low-Down Liberal Liars. A quote from the article reads “They’re a bunch of low-down, no-good, liberal liars.”
ToddStarnes.com reports news with a far-right bias that is not always factual as evidenced by several failed fact checks and the promotion of conspiracy theories as seen above.
Failed Fact Checks
- The Austin Independent School District board voted to mandate “a pornographic sex education policy that includes instruction on anal sex and how to place a condom on an erect penis.” – Mostly False
- “Students at the University of Texas in Austin have been advised not to wear cowboy boots or cowboy hats on Halloween.” – False
- Liberals have figured out a Facebook algorithm and “all the people getting banned from Facebook are somehow conservatives.” – False
- A new high school textbook describes U.S. President Donald Trump as “mentally ill” and his supporters as racist. – Mostly False
- Churches are required by the local government to record and register lists of attendees for tracking purposes in Kansas City, Missouri. – False
Overall, we rate ToddStarnes.com Far-Right Biased and Questionable based on poor sourcing, promotion of conspiracies and propaganda, lack of transparency, and numerous failed fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 6/8/2020)
Source: https://www.toddstarnes.com/
Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources
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