How do news outlets across the political spectrum drive different perceptions of the economy?
For the AllSides’ Shaping the Narrative 6-part series, we examine how often national news media outlets cover select topics, including: the economy, the Trump administration, politics, international news, immigration, and crime.
We collected and analyzed headlines from 16 outlets across the political spectrum over the course of 14 days (April 9 – April 22, 2025). In doing so, AllSides reveals how the media shapes the narrative on key topics.
In part one of this series, we’re breaking down coverage of the economy. Some key findings were:
- Outlets on the left covered the economy more than the right during this time period: 25% of homepage coverage by outlets AllSides rates as Left and Lean Left was on the topic of the economy, compared to ~15% of homepage coverage by Lean Right/Right-rated outlets.
- Center outlets covered the economy the most of any bias group. On average, Lean Left outlets covered the economy in 24% of overall media coverage, Left outlets 26%, Center outlets 42%, Lean Right outlets 17%, and Right outlets 14%.
- Outlets on the left were more likely to show negativity bias and bias by viewpoint, highlighting voices critical of Trump’s handling of the economy in headlines; Center outlets were more balanced, showcasing both sides, and outlets on the right tended to show positivity bias on the economy and tariffs, or bias by omission of critical voices.
Look out for more coverage from AllSides Shaping the Narrative series:
- Shaping the Narrative: Trump Administration
- Shaping the Narrative: Politics
- Shaping the Narrative: Immigration
- Shaping the Narrative: International News
How Are Media Outlets Covering the Economy?
The most prevalent topic covered across all media outlets was the economy, appearing in 25% of 2,240 articles analyzed in the Shaping the Narrative project.
On average, the economy was covered more by outlets AllSides rates as Center – the topic represented an average of 42% of all articles written by Center outlets during this research period. Of these Center outlets, the Wall Street Journal (Center bias) covered the economy the most – 56% of all WSJ articles collected focused on the economy.
When broadening the scope to include outlets of all different bias ratings, The Wall Street Journal was first as well. Reuters (Center bias) was second at 55%, and Vox (Left bias) was third at 45%. Of outlets in the study, the economy was covered the least by MSNBC (Left bias) (13%), New York Post (Lean Right bias) (10%), and Fox News Right bias) (6%).
For the purposes of this study, what determined whether a media outlet covered the topic of economy was if it wrote about: inflation, the stock market, tariffs, business, and economics. (Full Breakdown per Topic - Report) Moreover, what led to an article being labeled as covering the Economy was determined by the AllSides’ Topic Mapping Methodology (p. 44).
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How Are Left & Lean Left Outlets Covering the Economy?
Left-leaning media outlets exhibited a significantly more critical stance on the economy during the Trump administration, frequently highlighting the president's perceived role in its weakening. These outlets often prioritized economic news, featuring a higher volume of articles prominently displayed on their homepages compared to their right-leaning counterparts.
Our analysis found a clear disparity in coverage: Left and Lean Left outlets dedicated 50% of their economic reporting to the Trump administration, whereas Right and Lean Right outlets covered it only 31% of the time. This difference aligns with the general political bias of critics and supporters of the Trump administration.
MSNBC (Left bias) published some of the more aggressive critiques, including the headline “4 key takeaways from Trump’s tariffs disaster,” by former Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. It described Trump’s tariff policy as ‘destructive’ and framed his withdrawal of increased tariffs towards China as a self-preserving tactic due to ‘public pressure’ rather than ‘actually car[ing]’ about the American people. (It should be noted that MSNBC was the number one outlet in coverage of the Trump administration – with 52% of all articles written being at least, in part, on the Trump administration.)
Associated Press (Left bias) wrote, “Trump’s China tariff shocks US importers. One CEO calls it ‘end of days’.” This headline displays story choice bias, as AP elected to quote a single CEO who had a negative reaction to Trump’s tariffs on the economy and did not balance the story by quoting a CEO with a positive perspective on Trump’s tariffs.
ABC News (Lean Left bias), also took a critical approach on the economy, writing, “Trump’s tariff policy is ‘all chaos and corruption’: Sen. Elizabeth Warren.” Across the 140 headlines collected from ABC, the outlet did not include a single quote expressing a positive view of Trump’s tariffs during the data collection period – showcasing bias by viewpoint placement.
How Are Center Outlets Covering the Economy?
In the time period we looked at, outlets in the Center generally continued the critiques of Left and Lean Left outlets on the economy and Trump’s tariffs:
The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) ran the news headline, “Trump to Rewire Every Other Economy With Trade Onslaught,” engaging in sensationalism with the word ‘onslaught.’
Reuters (Center bias) followed suit and wrote, “Wall Street's response to tariff shock: client calls and bonus worries” – a headline that uses the charged descriptors ‘shock’ and ‘worries.’ These words frame the reader’s perception of the news through a negative lens, making it also an example of negativity bias.
BBC News (Center bias) wrote, “Retreat or negotiating strategy? Trump steps back from all-out trade,” engaging with both sides of the political spectrum that may view Trump’s step back with tariffs as either a ‘retreat’ or ‘strategy.’ Additionally, the article quotes Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro, who claimed the move ‘unfolded exactly the way it should’ in addition to Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, who claimed ‘[Trump] is reeling, he is retreating…”
Compared to Left and Lean Left outlets, however, Center outlets generally maintained a degree of restraint in their critiques and offered multiple perspectives despite their moments of bias.
How Are Right & Lean Right Outlets Covering the Economy?
During the data collection period, outlets rated Right often engaged in story choice bias, by selecting stories on the economy that framed it as stronger than what Left, Lean Left, and Center outlets have provided.
Outlets rated Lean Right covered the topic the least out of all bias groups, while also slanting critical narratives on the economy to either downplay the critiques or slant the stories to more positive angles.
For example, The New York Post (Lean Right bias) wrote, “Yes, Trump’s tariffs are worse than expected — but should you sell your stocks?” This headline acknowledges the critiques Trump’s tariffs have received, but slants the narrative to diminish these critiques for its audience.
Outlets rated Right, such as Breitbart (Right bias), published several articles on the economy, the majority of which took a more positive outlook on the economy and framed the opposition negatively: “Win After Win After Win Consumer Prices Fell in March, Defying Predictions of Tarriff-flation,” “Not Smart: China Strikes Back with 84% Tariffs.” Breitbart often presented opinion as fact, and in one instance claimed consumers are ‘winning’ and that China is ‘not smart’ for engaging in tariff strategies similar to Trump’s.
Fox News (Right bias) wrote, “Trump’s latest trade move jolts markets, sending stocks into the green,” as well as “Trump pitches bold tariff plan that could put a lot of money back in your wallet” framing Trump’s influence on the economy favorably – story choice bias.
Was Coverage Influenced by Political Bias?
While outlets engaged in different types of bias, there was a clear pattern amongst outlets of different political biases and their coverage of the economy. Left and Lean Left rated outlets generally focused on framing the economy through a negative lens, showing negativity bias.
Conversely, outlets rated Right and Lean Right typically downplayed economic concerns and shaped the narrative on the economy into a more positive angle through the use of story choice bias. Additionally, these outlets often forewent covering negative stories or critical voices on the economy – what is known as bias by omission.
See how major media outlets cover the Trump Administration in the second part of our analysis.
Emanuel Macuixtle is a Policy Analyst and Research Assistant at AllSides. He has a Left bias.
This blog was edited and reviewed by Andrew Weinzrierl, Bias Research Manager & Data Journalist (Lean Left), Andy Gorel, News and Social Media Editor (Center), Henry A. Brechter, Editor-in-Chief (Center), and Julie Mastrine, Director of Marketing and Bias Ratings (Right).
