Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) - Bias and Credibility

LEFT BIAS

These media sources are moderately 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 the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) as having a left bias due to its critical perspective on U.S. and Israeli policies. We also rate them as mixed factually due to poor sourcing practices.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Magazine
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

History

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) is an American foreign policy magazine that focuses on the Middle East and U.S. policies in the region. The American Educational Trust (AET) publishes WRMEA and maintains its website. AET, a non-profit founded in 1982 by retired U.S. foreign service officers, is based in Washington, DC.

AET aims to educate Americans about the region. Their educational goal is to “Interpret the Middle East for North Americans; Interpret North America for the Middle East,” addressing the perceived lack of knowledge about the region. Its founders include Edward Firth Henderson, Andrew I. Killgore, and Richard H. Curtiss. Subsequent leadership was provided by Dr. John Davies, Reverend Dr. L. Humphrey Walz, and Henrietta Fanner.

Read our profile on the United States media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

The American Educational Trust (AET) funds the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) solely through magazine and book sales, advertisements, subscriptions, and donations. The AET’s Board of Directors and advisory committees are volunteer positions. The AET also maintains a bookstore selling books, DVDs, Palestinian handicrafts, olive oil, and spices. The American Educational Trust (AET) has a four-star rating on Charity Navigator, reflecting strong accountability, finances, leadership, adaptability, and community culture.

Analysis / Bias

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs frequently takes a critical stance on Middle East affairs, particularly focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, peace initiatives, ongoing regional issues, and grassroots activism. This critical perspective is evident in the use of loaded language in articles and headlines, with a specific focus on topics such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, human rights, and U.S. foreign policy in the region. The WRMEA does not take partisan domestic political positions. As a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it also endorses U.N. Security Council Resolution 242’s land-for-peace formula, aligning with traditional American values and U.N. principles.

One of the magazine’s unique features is the “Postcards” section. This collection of downloadable and shareable opinion pieces covers various topics related to U.S. relations with Middle Eastern states. These postcards often present a critical perspective on U.S. and Israeli policies and serve as an activist resource, providing readers with information and viewpoints that challenge mainstream narratives.

For instance, a postcard titled “What’s the excuse for continued U.S. support for Israel?” discusses U.S. foreign aid, particularly its support for Israel, in the context of global humanitarian needs. It questions why a significant portion of U.S. foreign aid goes towards funding foreign militaries, specifically mentioning Israel, which it states is capable of funding its own military.

The article contains emotionally loaded language and exhibits bias in its criticism of U.S. support for Israel. The use of phrases like “there is no shortage of people in need of humanitarian assistance” and “inflicting pain and suffering” invokes strong emotions to portray Israel negatively. The article also discusses documented human rights violations in the Palestinian territories and questions the rationale for continued U.S. support for Israel.

The absence of external references or hyperlinks in the article, possibly due to its advocacy nature, is notable. The directive to “Cut and paste HTML (for emailing your Sen. or Rep.)” indicates a focus on reader engagement and advocacy. However, this lack of external sources makes it difficult to fully assess the article’s accuracy and objectivity despite offering insights into certain perspectives on U.S. foreign policy and aid allocation.

Similarly, the article titled; “Israel Affinity Organizations and Businesses Received Millions in Forgivable PPP Loans” discusses the distribution of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the Covid-19 pandemic. It mentions that several organizations identified as advancing Israel’s interests within the U.S. received substantial PPP loans and lists these organizations alongside the loan amounts they received. However, it does not provide explicit references or links to support its claims. This article represents the publication’s critical perspective on U.S. and Israeli policies.

In summary, The Washington Report offers in-depth analysis and commentary on Middle East affairs, often challenging mainstream narratives. However, it generally relies on circular references and occasionally includes external hyperlinks, indicating a mix of factual reporting with room for improvement in citation and external verification.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) as having a left bias due to its critical perspective on U.S. and Israeli policies. We also rate them as mixed factually due to poor sourcing practices. (M. Huitsing 05/08/2024)

Source: https://www.wrmea.org/

Last Updated on May 8, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check