U.S. Right to Know - Bias and Credibility

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 using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information reporting that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.

Overall, we rate U.S. Right To Know (USRTK) as Left biased based on advocacy for causes aligned with a progressive perspective. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reporting rather than high due to occasionally not aligning with the consensus of science on some issues detailed in the report.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT (-6.6)
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL (3.9)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 2014, U.S. Right to Know (USRTK) is a nonprofit public health research group that focuses on exposing corporate wrongdoing and government failures that may threaten public health. The website features articles, reports, and investigations into various topics such as food safety, pesticides, and corporate influence on public policy. They are based in Oakland, California.

The USRTK’s research has been published in credible journals such as BMJ and The Journal of Public Policy Health.

Funded by / Ownership

U.S. Right to Know is a nonprofit organization. Revenue is presumably generated through donations and grants. The organization had been significantly funded by the Organic Consumers Association until 2022, which has contributed over $1 million to the group as of 2022. Other major donors include the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Dr. Bronner’s Family Foundation, and the Westreich Foundation. The primary funder in 2024 is the National Philanthropic Trust.

Analysis / Bias

The U.S. Right To Know (USRTK) organization aims to expose perceived unethical practices in the food and agriculture sectors. It engages in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests targeting scientists and academics and publishes critical profiles of various trade and advocacy groups. USRTK has faced criticism for its tactics, which some view as harassment and intimidation of scientists. Critics argue that USRTK is part of a network of ‘science rejectionists’ and question the legitimacy of its campaigns.

USRTK uses charged language and selective reporting in its articles, often presenting information in a way that emphasizes potential dangers and controversies. Headlines such as “Fauci’s institute hid mpox gain-of-function plans from Congress and the media” suggest a strong bias towards uncovering purported government scandals and misconduct. This story is speculative because it relies on congressional investigations and committee reports that suggest concealment and misconduct without providing direct evidence of the experiments being conducted or any resultant consequences. However, the report provides direct evidence of approval for a gain-of-function experiment involving the MPXV virus. This report is properly sourced.

A review of numerous articles indicates they frequently cite scientific studies and expert opinions; however, they often highlight studies that support their agenda while downplaying or ignoring contrary evidence. This selective use of sources can lead to a skewed representation of the scientific consensus. However, the information is generally factual but one-sided in presentation.

Furthermore, the U.S. Right to Know (USRTK) frequently publishes articles that oppose genetically modified organisms (GMOs), often making claims that can be misleading or lack substantial evidence. For example, USRTK has asserted that there are significant health risks associated with GMOs, despite the consensus among major scientific organizations that GMOs currently on the market are safe to eat and pose no greater risk than conventional foods.

In general, the U.S. Right to Know exhibits a clear bias toward highlighting potential dangers associated with corporate practices, particularly in the food and agricultural sectors. While it uses scientific sources, its selective reporting and charged language suggest a strong predisposition against the establishment and sometimes the consensus of science. The organization’s alignment with progressive causes and focus on controversial topics may influence its objectivity, though it has not been directly implicated in any major fact-checking controversies.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years. However, there is evidence of one-sided perspectives and selective sourcing.

Overall, we rate U.S. Right To Know (USRTK) as Left biased based on advocacy for causes aligned with a progressive perspective. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reporting rather than high due to occasionally not aligning with the consensus of science on some issues detailed in the report. (D. Van Zandt 11/02/2023) Updated (02/18/2025)

Source: https://usrtk.org/

Last Updated on February 18, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check