Here's the skinny: A "Center" media bias rating from AllSides doesn't necessarily mean a source is neutral, unbiased, perfectly reasonable, or even credible. A Center media bias rating simply means a source or writer does not predictably publish content tilted toward either end of the political spectrum — conservative or liberal. A media outlet with a Center rating may display bias on both sides equally, or inconsistently. It may run individual articles that display bias, but not predictably, and it may omit important perspectives. Center doesn't mean better! We encourage people to read outlets across the political spectrum to get a balanced view.
Updated May 14, 2025 12:34 PM ET
One of the most common pieces of feedback on the AllSides Media Bias Charts and our 2,400 ratings has been from people upset about influencers or media outlets we rate as Center. We understand a Center rating can appear as an endorsement, but a Center rating does not necessarily mean a source is neutral, unbiased, perfectly reasonable, or even credible. It can mean these things — but not always.
When looking at the AllSides Media Bias Chart, it can be easy to assume the outlets rated Center are the most unbiased and determine that you should only read news from Center outlets. But that's not the case.
A Center media bias rating simply means a source or writer rated does not predictably publish content tilted toward either end of the political spectrum — conservative or liberal. A Center outlet may not show much predictable bias, or its bias leans to the left and right equally at different times. A media outlet with a Center rating may still omit important perspectives or run individual articles that display bias, while not displaying a lot of predictable bias in its content overall.
A Center-rated influencer may have views that are all over the map — perhaps some of their views are typically associated with the right (like being in favor of gun ownership), but other views they hold align more typically with the left (like being in favor of universal healthcare).
Center outlets and influencers will not necessarily give you the full story. Sometimes, a media outlet with a Center rating misses important perspectives, leaving out valid perspectives from the left or right.
The only outlets AllSides endorses as truly unbiased or equally displaying left and right views are outlets we consider Certified Balanced™. These are outlets that have undergone our Media Bias Audit rating process and have been found to be exceptional, meeting specific criteria.
A Center rating also shouldn't be interpreted as a measure of credibility — while some Center outlets are credible, we don't rate media accuracy because it would require us to become a Ministry of Truth. Center might mean an outlet is balanced, but it may still display omission in sourcing, sensationalism, or other issues.
While it may be easy to think that we should only consume media from Center outlets or influencers, AllSides believes Center is not necessarily the answer. By reading only Center news, we may still encounter bias and omission of important issues and perspectives. For this reason, it is important to consume a balanced news diet.
View the full list of AllSides Media Bias Ratings™.
