theSkimm

theSkimm Rated Lean Left in April 2022 Small Group Editorial Review

An April 2022 AllSides Small Group Editorial Review by AllSides editors on the left and right returned a Lean Left bias rating for theSkimm, mostly due to story choice and slant.

One reviewer on the right argued theSkimm actually had a Left bias, and one reviewer who is on the left argued it was Center; the final determination was Lean Left. Reviewers noted that theSkimm's stated target audience is Millennial women, who tend to lean left. 

Story choice largely leaned left, with stories focused on sustainability, climate change, pro-abortion rights, and identity groups. Examples include:

• Meet the Innovators Pushing the Fashion Industry Toward a More Sustainable Future

• 19 Sustainable Parenting Products That Are Better for the Planet

• 4 (Solvable) Reasons We're Losing The Fight Against Climate Change

• How Everywhere is Queer’s Founder Maps Out ‘Safer Spaces’ For LGBTQ+ Community

• How Systemic Racism Impacts Health Care — And What You Can Do

• Where Are Abortions Rights in Danger in the US?

• ‘Young People Are Listening, Words Matter,’ Says Trevor Project CEO on Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

The team detected some slant, which is when a media outlet only portrays one side of an issue. For instance, an article explaining President Biden's plan to regulate ghost guns included a lengthy paragraph detailing concerns that ghost guns are dangerous, but did not include reasons why someone might be against the proposal to regulate them.

An article about laws to remove books about sex from schools, as well as Florida's Parental Rights in Education law (dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" law) banning instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-3 dubbed such measures "anti-LGBTQ legislation" and interviewed only one person who is against such laws.

theSkimm, sometimes referred to as "The Skimm," describes itself as "a digital media company, dedicated to succinctly giving women the information they need to make confident decisions" (Retrieved November 2022).

On the topic of political bias, it describes itself as "a nonpartisan media organization and does not adhere to, advocate or take money from any political party." It says it provides "reliable, non-partisan, information, informing and empowering them while fitting into their daily routines." Its "purpose-driven" social impact arm, Skimm Impact, is "proud to support get-out-the-vote efforts with Skimm Your Ballot, which has spurred 1 million voting-related actions across the last three election cycles, and it’s #ShowUsYourLeave movement, creating transparency and change for Paid Family Leave in the U.S."

Its flagship product is the Daily Skimm, a newsletter launched in 2012 that it says "connects the dots on how the day’s biggest stories affect your life." Other products include newsletters like Skimm Money and podcasts like 9 to 5ish.

theSkimm was co-founded by Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg. In November 2022, its investors included GV (formerly Google Ventures), Disney, RRE Ventures, and Homebrew Ventures.