LEFT-CENTER BIAS
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 appeals 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 USA Today Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the left. We also rate them Mostly Factual for factual reporting due to editors missing fabricated stories in the past.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Newspaper
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
USA Today is a daily newspaper founded in 1982 by businessman, author, and columnist Al Neuharth. The paper covers national and world news focusing on entertainment, pop culture, and celebrity gossip news. USA Today Network also provides a Principles of Ethical Conduct For Newsrooms available to be viewed here.
The President and Publisher of USA Today are Maribel Perez Wadsworth. As of March 2018, Nicole Carroll is the Editor in Chief. They also provide a listing of their staff index and the Editorial board.
On 06/16/2022, it was announced that USA Today removed 23 articles written by Gabriela Miranda for fabricating facts.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
USA Today is owned by the Gannett Company, headquartered in McLean, Virginia. It is one of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States, with interests in newspapers, digital marketing services companies, and television broadcasting. Subscriptions and advertising generate revenue.
Analysis
USA Today had never taken a position in a US presidential election. However, in 2016, USA Today published an editorial urging readers not to vote for Donald Trump. Further, they did not endorse Hillary Clinton either. USA Today explained its decision behind the “disendorsement” in a separate editorial titled: “Why we’re breaking tradition: Our view,” in which they explain that founder Al Neuharth in his column, described Trump in 2012 as “a clown who loves doing or saying things to get attention, no matter how ridiculous.” Essentially, they felt that this is what Al Neuharth would have wanted if he were alive. Although they did not endorse any single candidate, they opposed Donald Trump.
In 2017, a USA Today editorial published a rebuke of a Trump tweet: “Will Trump’s lows ever hit rock bottom?”
“Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!” ~ Donald Trump
The USA Today Editorial Board responded by writing: “A president who’d all but call a senator a whore is unfit to clean toilets in Obama’s presidential library or shine George W. Bush’s shoes.” When USA Today received criticism for this editorial’s perceived bias, they responded with an additional editorial explaining their position.
Bias
In review, USA Today publishes stories with emotionally loaded headlines such as “President Trump’s 2017 performance review, from Putin with love.” USA Today also publishes opposite-view articles such as “Democrats, it’s time for you to dump Hillary Clinton.” USA Today states they pair editorials with opposing views; however, we found more editorials slightly favored the left through wording and story selection in our review.
In June of 2018, to provide balance to readers, USA Today launched a conservative newsletter geared toward the United States’ heartland.
When it comes to reporting straight news, USA Today always uses proper sources such as Associated Press, Slate, New York Times, Politifact, The Hill, and ABC News. Further, straight news reporting is written with minimally loaded words and tends to cover both sides of issues.
A 2014 Pew Research Survey found that 41% of USA Today’s audience is consistently or primarily liberal, 32% Mixed, and 27% consistently or mostly conservative. This indicates that a more liberal audience prefers them. Further, a Reuters institute survey found that 43% of respondents trust their news coverage and 31% do not, ranking them #9 in trust of the major USA news providers.
Failed Fact Checks
- “Hurricane Florence is not climate change or global warming. It’s just the weather.” – Low Scientific Credibility (op-ed)
Overall, we rate USA Today Left-Center Biased based on editorial positions that slightly favor the left. We also rate them Mostly Factual for factual reporting due to editors missing fabricated stories in the past. (7/10/2016) Updated (M. Huitsing 06/17/2022)
Last Updated on July 1, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources