PBS NewsHour

About PBS NewsHour's Bias Rating

PBS NewsHour is a news media source with an AllSides Media Bias Rating™ of Lean Left.

Note: This rating is for online news on PBSNewshour's website only, not its broadcast content.

What a "Lean Left" Rating Means

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

PBS NewsHour Moved from Center to Lean Left Following November 2022 Editorial Review

An AllSides November 2022 Editorial Review returned a bias rating of Lean Left for PBS NewsHour. All reviewers gave a rating of Lean Left for PBS NewsHour overall, with the exception of one reviewer from the left who placed the outlet slightly left of center. PBS Newshour was previously rated Center; AllSides moved PBS Newshour's rating at this time.

Coverage is generally neutral, though its story choices may be of less interest to right-leaning audiences. Panelists across the political spectrum noted general Lean Left story choice:

• Critics say new school policies in Florida ostracize LGBTQ students
• Judge says Michael Flynn must testify in Georgia 2020 election probe
• Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni sworn in as Italy’s prime minister
• Why Arabic ballots are now being offered in Michigan and what this means for voter access in the U.S.
• Who South Dakota’s Medicaid expansion vote will impact the most
• Why is the GOP escalating attacks on trans rights? Experts say the goal is to make sure evangelicals vote

An article on Arizona’s 2022 gubernatorial race employed left-leaning slant: “Democrat Katie Hobbs was elected Arizona governor on Monday, defeating an ally of Donald Trump who falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged and refused to say she would accept the results of her race this year.” Another article uses the term “insurrection” when referencing the events on Jan. 6, a term the right generally rejects. In a discussion about the state of the American childcare system, coverage highlights Biden’s policies and reforms without including opposition.

Coverage of transgender issues was largely seen to contain left-leaning word choice and slant, often omitting other perspectives. One article, “Children’s hospitals become targets of anti-transgender attacks and harassment,” claims that “anti-transgender activists have been using social media to spread disinformation about gender-affirming medical care.” The term “gender-affirming care” is more often used by the left, and there are different perspectives on the appropriate course of treatment for gender dysphoria; the right and left woud likely disagree on whether some of these perspectives constitute disinformation. Another article mentions efforts by North Carolina officials to “restrict transgender lives” saying that it “casts a shadow” over transgender individuals in the area. 

Despite instances of left-leaning story choice, reviewers from the left, center, and right noted many instances of balance. Coverage of Biden’s student debt relief plan included perspectives from both the right and the left. A reviewer from the left found that the outlet remained largely neutral when reporting on Darrell Brook Jr.’s sentencing for the fatal Milwaukee Christmas parade incident. An article on the 2022 midterms covered campaign trail strategies with balance, giving both Republicans and Democrats equal coverage. 

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As of April 2024, people have voted on the AllSides Media Bias Rating for PBS NewsHour. On average, those who disagree with our rating think this source has a Lean Left bias.

As of April 2024, AllSides has medium confidence in our Lean Left rating for PBS NewsHour. 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.

Owner: PBS