Background on Truthout.org. Judge for yourself, no judgment.

Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
World Press Freedom Rank: USA 45/180

History

Truthout is a progressive news organization in the United States that operates a web site and distributes a daily newsletter. Registered in September 2001, in Sacramento, California, Truthout publishes original political news articles, opinion pieces, video reports and artwork. According to its about page, “Truthout works to broaden and diversify the political discussion by introducing independent voices and focusing on under covered issues and unconventional thinking.” Truthout’s main areas of focus are mass incarceration, social justice and climate change. The current editor in chief is Maya Schenwar.

Funded by / Ownership

Truthout is a 501(3) nonprofit that is funded through donations.

Analysis / Bias

In review, Truthout is a progressive news and opinion website that is focused on social justice and the environment. There is significant use of loaded emotional language that favors the left such as this: Scapegoating Unions for the Postal Service’s Phony Crisis. This op-ed is properly sourced to credible outlets such as Brookings and whitehouse.gov. Straight news reporting comes from both Truthout staff, as well as republishing from other sources. Most of the sources used for republishing are left leaning such as Common Dreams, Salon and Rewire. In general, story selection always favors the left with negative reporting on President Trump such as this: Donald Trump’s Only Strategy Is to Create Crisis and Claim to Fix It.

When it comes to science Truthout holds a negative view toward GMO’s and uses highly sensationalized and conspiratorial headlines such as this: Have Monsanto and the Biotech Industry Turned Natural Pesticides Into GMO “Super Toxins”?

Although Truthout has not failed a fact check by an IFCN fact checker, they have reported some stories that were not factual. For example, a reporter claimed that Karl Rove was indicted on charges when in fact he wasn’t. The reporter continued to make the claim without evidence. See link here. Although this is only one example, it shows that this source should be checked when in doubt.

Overall, we rate Truthout strongly Left Biased based on story selection and political positions that favor the left. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to publishing a false story as well as promoting anti-GMO propaganda. (5/15/2016) Updated (D. Van Zandt 4/07/2019)

[mediabiasfactcheck.com]

The left is a small minority in this country. If we lived in a parliamentary democracy you could vote for the party of your choice. We have a two party system. The best you can possibly hope for is the lesser of two evils and a majority in both houses of Congress. Otherwise you get four more years of Trump. Those are your only two choices.