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AlterNet

-4.50
LeftLeft biasWhat does this mean?

How we determined this rating:

  • Independent Review
  • Third-Party Analysis:
  • AllSides has medium confidence in this bias rating.

Unless otherwise noted, this bias rating refers only to online news coverage, not TV, print, or radio content.

Learn about our bias rating methods
Contents
  1. About AlterNet's Bias Rating
  2. What a "Left" Rating Means
  3. Confidence Level
  4. Additional Information
  5. Ownership & Funding

About AlterNet's Bias Rating

AlterNet is featured on the AllSides Media Bias Chart™.

AlterNet is a news media source with an AllSides Media Bias Rating™ of Left.

What a "Left" Rating Means

Sources with an AllSides Media Bias Rating of Left display media bias in ways that strongly align with liberal, progressive, or left-wing thought and/or policy agendas. This is our most liberal rating on the political spectrum.

Learn more about Left ratings

Confidence Level

Confidence is determined by how many reviews have been applied and consistency of data.

As of July 2026, AllSides has medium confidence in our Left rating for AlterNet. An Editorial Review or Blind Bias Survey has affirmed this rating, or multiple reviews have returned differing results. If we perform more bias reviews and gather consistent data, this confidence level will increase.

Additional Information

AlterNet is a US-based for-profit news website established in 1987 as a project of the Independent Media Institute (formerly the Institute for Alternative Journalism) to syndicate progressive media. Since 2018 it has been owned by AlterNet Media, the for-profit company formed by Raw Story founders John K. Byrne and Michael Rogers, who acquired it from the Independent Media Institute; the same partners own Raw Story and The New Civil Rights Movement. Originally funded by foundation grants, donations, and advertising, AlterNet now runs on digital ad revenue and ad-free memberships and reader donations. 

Ownership & financing last updated: June 2026

History of Our Media Bias Rating

AlterNet has maintained a Left media bias rating since being added to the AllSides database in October 2015.

Third Party Analysis of Alternet Bias

AlterNet has been given a mixed rating by Snopes.com fact checks, and was included in an initial index of "unreliable" news websites crafted by numerous media scientists and fact-checking groups.

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AlterNet Ownership and Funding

Funding and ownership do not influence bias ratings. We rate the bias of content only.

Owner: Raw Story Media, Inc.

In April 2018, Alternet was acquired by the partners of RawStory.com. Raw Story is owned by Raw Story Media, Inc. John K. Byrne is the founder, chairman and CEO, as well as a partner. Michael Rogers is the vice chairman, partner and managing director.

Financing and ownership information last updated February 22, 2021. If you think this information is out of date or needs to be updated, please contact us.