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 Truthout Left Biased based on story selection and political positions that favor the left. We also rate them as Mostly factual in reporting rather than High due to consistent one-sided reporting that leaves out opposing context.
Detailed Reporting
Bias Rating: LEFT (-7.4)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (3.7)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Truthout is a progressive news organization based in the United States, registered in Sacramento, California, since September 2001. It provides original political news articles, opinion pieces, video reports, and artwork through its website and daily newsletter. According to its About page, “Truthout works to broaden and diversify the political discussion by introducing independent voices and focusing on under-covered issues and unconventional thinking.” With a primary focus on mass incarceration, social justice, and climate change, Truthout publishes work intended to encourage progressive dialogue on these critical topics.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Truthout operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, sustained primarily through reader donations, and is not dependent on ad revenue or large corporate funding. This structure theoretically provides greater editorial independence, though, as with other nonprofit media, funding is susceptible to donor influence, potentially aligning coverage more closely with the perspectives favored by its progressive donor base.
Analysis / Bias
In review, Truthout is a progressive news and opinion website focused on social justice and the environment. There is significant use of loaded emotional language that favors the left, such as this: Scapegoating Unions for the Postal Service’s Phony Crisis. This op-ed is properly sourced to credible outlets such as Brookings and whitehouse.gov.
Straight news reporting comes from both Truthout staff, as well as republishing from other sources. Most of the sources used for republishing are left-leaning such as Common Dreams, Salon, and Rewire. In general, story selection always favors the left with negative reporting on President Trump, such as this: Donald Trump’s Only Strategy Is to Create Crisis and Claim to Fix It.
While Truthout generally avoids deliberate falsehoods, its anti-GMO stance sometimes adopts sensational language, potentially misleading readers about the scientific consensus on GMOs.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the last 5 years.
Overall, we rate Truthout Left Biased based on story selection and political positions that favor the left. We also rate them as Mostly factual in reporting rather than High due to consistent one-sided reporting that leaves out opposing context. (5/15/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 11/13/2024)
Source: https://truthout.org/
Last Updated on June 28, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources