RIGHT-CENTER BIAS
These media sources are slightly to moderately conservative in 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 conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.
- Overall, we rate Zebra Fact Check slightly Right-Center Biased based on story (fact check) selection that favors the right and High for factual reporting based on strong sourcing of information to credible media and institutions.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 2012 by Bryan W. White, Zebra Fact Check is a fact-checking site that examines the fact checks “other fact checkers ignore.” According to their about page, “Zebra Fact Check exists to fill in some of the gaps. We’ll look at statements other fact-checkers ignore. We’ll supply information other fact-checkers might miss. We expect to improve the standard for fact-checking by applying rigorous standards consistently. And we’ll keep an eye on other fact-checkers to encourage higher standards.”
Bryan White is a graduate of the journalism program at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Further, according to their FAQ page, Bryan White states, “I’m honest enough to admit I have a conservative bias, and I trust the reader to reasonably take that into account when reading a fact check.” You can view their methodology/rating system here.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
Zebra Fact Check is owned by Bryan W. White and, according to their FAQ page is funded through individual donations.
Analysis / Bias
Again, according to the FAQ page, Bryan White states, “If I follow the steps properly then the only type of bias readily apparent on this site will consist of my choosing stories of greater interest to conservatives. This site aims in part to counteract the worst work from left-leaning mainstream fact-checkers.” According to our (MBFC) rating system, we classify this as selection bias, which, quite frankly, almost every source demonstrates to a certain extent and weighs the least in our assessments.
In review, Zebra Fact Check does just as they state; the fact check claims that would appeal most to those who lean right. For the most part, the main purpose of this site is to refute Politifact claims, but they do look at others, such as the Washington Post Fact Checker. In fact, Bryan White is a part of another website called Politifact Bias, which solely examines Politifact Claims.
Zebra Fact Check occasionally uses loaded language in their headlines, such as “PolitiFact Gives Zebra Fact Check the Brush-off,” but for the most part, sticks to neutral language such as this: Fact checker rating systems: Why? When it comes to sourcing, Zebra Fact Check uses strictly credible sources such as The Tax Policy Center, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Justice.Gov, C-Span, and the Brennan Center, to name just a few. In reviewing dozens of their articles/fact checks, we could not find an instance where they were demonstratively wrong. In this particular fact check, “What if Fact Checkers Knew Logic?“, Zebra Fact Check accurately states that the Half-True rating by Politifact, concerning the claim by Bernie Sanders that “Medicare for all” would save two trillion dollars, is inaccurate, which is evidenced by the Mercatus Center, who did the study and said it was out of context.
In this updated review, we find that Zebra Fact Check continues to attempt to refute and correct fact-checkers. For example, they recently contacted Politifact to provide evidence of a claim they made in a fact check: Correction request submitted to PolitiFact, Sept. 15, 2022.
While Zebra Fact Check certainly attempts to refute, almost exclusively fact checks, that favor the left and denigrate the right, they always source information and make valid points that are plausible.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years
Overall, we rate Zebra Fact Check slightly right-center Biased based on story (fact check) selection that favors the right and High for factual reporting based on strong sourcing of information to credible media and institutions. (D. Van Zandt 1/18/2019) Updated (10/30/2023)
Disclaimer: Bryan White has written negatively about Media Bias Fact Check in the past. This review was done using our stated methodology without consideration of the opinions expressed by Bryan White on a different website.
Source: https://www.zebrafactcheck.com
Last Updated on October 30, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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