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 appealing 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 Vice Media Left-Center Biased due to wording and story selection that moderately favors the left. We also rate them as Mostly Factual rather than High due to a failed fact check.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Vice Magazine was founded in 1994 by Shane Smith, Suroosh Alvi, and Gavin McInnes in Montreal, Canada. In this interview with Suroosh Alvi, he details how Vice was born. In 1998, the partners sold part of Vice to Montreal software magnate Richard Szalwinski; however, soon, they repurchased the magazine. Once called “Voice of Montreal,” they eventually changed the name to Vice. In 1999, Vice relocated its base to New York City and became Vice Media, which grew into a digital media company that publishes online and in print magazines and expanded into millennial-driven media consisting of a website, broadcast news unit, a film production company, a record label, and a publishing imprint and more.
Its news division, Vice News, launched in 2013 and focused on news and current events. Currently, Nancy Dubuc is the CEO, and Shane Smith is the Executive Chairman. According to its about page, Suroosh Alvi & Shane Smith are listed as owners, whereas Gavin McInnes is not listed since he left due to “creative differences.” Gavin McInnes later founded the Proud Boys, which is defined as a hate group.
On 5/15/2023, it was announced that Vice Media filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and will be sold. Ownership information will be updated when they have been purchased.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
According to Forbes, Shane Smith owns approximately (20%), and the rest of the shares belongs to The Walt Disney Company, A&E Networks, TPG Capital (the private equity group), and 21st Century Fox. Vice Media missed revenue targets by $100m, and according to a Forbes article, “ Disney wrote down $157m of its investment in Vice,” which indicates a sign of trouble “for the youth-focused media company.” Further, CNBC reports Vice is reportedly reducing staff by 15%. Vice News is funded primarily through advertising.
Analysis / Bias
In 2017, investigative reporting by Emily Steel of the New York Times uncovered mistreatment and sexual harassment of women and workplace culture at Vice Media, which was described by ex-employees as toxic. Following the report, Vice Media President Andrew Creighton resigned, which then CEO and now Executive Chairman Shane Smith has acknowledged and apologized, promising change. The company later announced that it established a Diversity and Inclusion Board.
In review, Vice News offers a progressive liberal perspective in reporting such as “Millennials Don’t Love Capitalism but Can’t Stop Using Amazon.” Vice News has an anti-Trump tone in their articles, such as This Is What It Takes for a Trump Voter to Change Their Mind and “Trump Foundation is shutting down after the New York AG called it “little more than a checkbook” for Trump.” However, Vice News utilizes credible sources such as the Washington Post, ocf.berkeley.edu, Vox, AP, ag.ny.gov, Forbes, Washington Examiner, Business Insider, census.gov, and the NY Times. More stories generally favor the left and present a more favorable left-leaning perspective on issues.
Failed Fact Checks
Overall, we rate Vice Media Left-Center Biased due to wording and story selection that moderately favors the left. We also rate them as Mostly Factual rather than High due to a failed fact check. (11/18/2016) Updated (M. Huitsing 05/16/2023)
Source: https://www.vice.com/
Last Updated on May 16, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources