WLFL – CW 22 - Bias and Credibility

LEAST BIASED

These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes). The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These are the most credible media sources.

Overall, we rate WLFL – CW 22 Least Biased based on minimal political reporting. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEAST BIASED
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: TV Station
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in 1981, WLFL – CW 22 is a CW-affiliated television station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, serving central North Carolina. The associated website is raleighcw.com which provides news, weather, and entertainment news.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

WLFL – CW 22 is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, a publicly traded American telecommunications company controlled by company founder Julian Sinclair Smith. The company is the second-largest television station operator in the United States by the number of stations, and largest by total coverage; owning or operating a total of 193 stations across the country in over 100 markets (covering 40% of American households), many of which are located in the South and Midwest.

Sinclair has been scrutinized by multiple media outlets for consistently favoring conservative politics. They are considered a rival to the right biased Fox News for the conservative audience. The Seattle Times has written a piece documenting Sinclair’s right-wing bias. Further, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (Open Secrets), the Sinclair Broadcast Group has donated $1,143,508 or 80% to Republican candidates since 1994.

Finally, in March 2018, Sinclair ordered its stations to produce promos with an “anchor delivered journalistic responsibility message” dictated by the company. The wording of the mandated script was criticized by some station news staff and outside pundits for its discussion of “fake news,” with some critics arguing that the message used similar language and rhetoric to Donald Trump. Trump responded to the promos on April 2, 2018, defending the company as being “far superior to CNN and even more Fake NBC, which is a total joke.”

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Analysis / Bias

In review, WLFL – CW 22 reports local news with minimal bias in wording such as this A family business: local couple brings the outdoors to your door. The website does not publish national or international news, but rather entertainment news such as this Arrest report reveals new details in DUI charges against WWE Superstar Jimmy Uso.

Editorially, WLFL – CW 22 does not publish op-eds; and rarely reports on political issues. The content of WLFL is factual and presented with minimal bias.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate WLFL – CW 22 Least Biased based on minimal political reporting. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact check record. (D. Van Zandt 07/09/2021)

Source: https://raleighcw.com/

Last Updated on July 1, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check