AllSides Balance Certification is awarded to exemplary news media outlets and signifies that an AllSides Media Bias Audit™ of a news source found it provides news reporting that is substantially free from partisan political bias or equally balances left, center, and right perspectives.
During an AllSides Media Bias Audit, the source’s news content undergoes multiple bias review methods, including an Editorial Review by AllSides panelists on the left, center, and right, and a Blind Bias Survey of Americans across the political spectrum.
AllSides Balance Certification is awarded to outlets that either:
- equally display a variety of perspectives on the left, center, and right or
- don’t show a lot of bias or political leanings in news reporting (This doesn’t mean the source is totally unbiased, just that it’s not displaying clear leanings.)
Not all Center-rated sources are Certified Balanced, but all Certified Balanced Sources are Center-rated. AllSides Balance Certification represents a higher standard that is more difficult to achieve.
Criteria
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AllSides Media Bias Audit: Source’s news reports have undergone at least 2 robust bias review methodologies. In most cases, that means it has undergone: both a full Editorial Review and a Blind Bias Survey. If there is significant video content, content has also undergone a Video Editorial Review. If the source only has video reporting, it has undergone two Video Editorial Reviews.
- Small Group Editorial Reviews and older data may be factored into the rating, but only in addition to at least two more robust and recent methodologies — a full Editorial Review and Blind Survey.
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Required AllSides Media Bias Meter™ scores to achieve Balance Certification
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Blind Bias Survey
- Result is Center, between -0.9 and +0.9
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Editorial Review
- Result is Center, between -0.7 and +0.7
- Panel determined that a roughly equal measure of both left and right perspectives are apparent in news content
- Or Panel detected none or very minimal indicators of types of media bias: outlet avoids the use of spin, slant, sensationalism, word choice bias, etc.
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Overall Written Rating
- Result is Center, between -0.6 and +0.6
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Video Editorial Review (if relevant)
- Result is Center, between -0.7 and +0.7
- Panel determined that an equal measure of both left and right perspectives are apparent in video news content
- Or Panel detected none or very minimal indicators of types of media bias: outlet avoids the use of spin, slant, sensationalism, word choice bias, etc.
- For outlets that have only video content, two Editorial Reviews are required. Each individual Video Editorial Review result must come out between -0.7 and +0.7
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Overall AllSides Media Bias Rating™ (average of BBS and Overall Written Rating Results, or average of 2 Video Editorial Reviews, in the case of video-only outlets)
- Result is Center, between +0.6 and -0.6
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Blind Bias Survey
- In addition to the above, the Balance Certification Review Panel also unanimously agrees that the source qualifies. The panel can veto an outlet if it hits the above criteria, but engages in sensationalism, extreme bias on both sides, or exhibits other areas of concern.
Definitions: Bias Review Methods
- Blind Bias Survey: Hundreds to thousands of respondents from all sides of the political spectrum and across the nation review and rate the bias of news content blindly. All branding and identifying information is removed, so respondents are not influenced by preconceived notions of a brand's bias.
- Editorial Review of Written Content: A multipartisan panel of at least 6 experts trained to spot bias reviews online, written news content for any signs of partisan bias, issues a bias rating, and gives recommendations.
- Editorial Review of Video or Linear Content: A multipartisan panel of at least 6 experts trained to spot bias reviews video or linear news content for any signs of partisan bias, issues a bias rating, and gives recommendations.
- Small Group Editorial Review of Written Content: A multipartisan panel of 3 experts trained to spot bias reviews online, written news content for any signs of partisan bias and issues a bias rating.
- Small Group Editorial Review of Linear or Video Content: A multipartisan panel of 3 experts trained to spot bias reviews video or linear news content for any signs of partisan bias and issues a bias rating.