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 Real Clear Politics as right-center biased based on source selection that leans right. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reporting rather than High due to some sources that have failed fact checks.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MOSTLY FACTUAL
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 2000, RealClearPolitics (RCP) is a Chicago-based political news and polling data aggregator. Operating under the RealClear brand, there are 14 RealClear websites that cover various platforms, including RealClearInvestigations, RealClearDefense, RealClearScience, RealClearReligion, and more. The Founders of RealClearPolitics are John McIntyre, an options trader, and Tom Bevan, an advertising account executive.
In 2007, Forbes Media took a 51% equity stake in RealClear Holdings. In 2015, Crest Media, which owns the Middle East news outlet Al-Monitor, and the original owners bought out a large equity stake that Forbes Media had possessed. Crest Media was founded by the president and chairman of Houston-based Crest Investment Company Jamal Daniel. Daniel is also the founder of Al-Monitor.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
RealClear Investors and Crest Media is the owner of RealClearPolitics. John McIntyre is the Co-founder & CEO, Tom Bevan is the Co-founder & Publisher, and Erin Waters is the President of the RealClear Media Group. According to Political Wire, RealClear operated a far-right website by the name Conservative Country; while this website is no longer in existence, the associated Facebook Page has 800,000+ followers. The Facebook Page publishes pro-Trump, anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, far-right memes and information, many of which link back to RealClear properties. RealClear generates revenue through subscriptions and an online advertising model.
Analysis / Bias
In review, the website features selected political news stories and op-eds from various news publications in addition to commentary from its own contributors. Though their own political views lean conservative, the site’s founders say their goal is to give readers “ideological diversity” in its commentary section. In reviewing their political news and opinions, there are slightly more that is published from right-leaning sources. However, both sides are represented. Real Clear Politics is known for its RCP Polling Average, which combines all polling data to create a statistical average.
Most of the news content on Real Clear Politics is aggregated from other sources such as Washington Post, New York Post, Salon, Fox News, The Federalist, and National Review. Several of the sources used by Real Clear Politics are listed as Mixed factual due to failed fact checks. For example, in this article, the author claims that the Intelligence Community Inspector General must have a whistleblower complaint with “First Hand” information before it can be urgent and credible. This is a false claim. In reviewing original Real Clear Politics articles, there is a right-leaning bias in wording and story selection, such as this: Gov. Jerry ‘Moonbeam’ Brown’s Warning to Fellow Democrats. Although this is an opinion piece, it completely lacks sourcing of any kind. Generally, most stories from Real Clear Politics come from a right-leaning perspective.
Failed Fact Checks
- None in the Last 5 years. However, some of the sources they use have failed fact checks.
Overall, we rate Real Clear Politics as right-center biased based on source selection that leans right. We also rate them as Mostly Factual in reporting rather than High due to some sources that have failed fact checks. (7/16/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 12/08/22)
Source: https://www.realclearpolitics.com
Last Updated on September 3, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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Left vs. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources