The Root Bias and Reliability

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Compare the scores of The Root to other sources on our free Interactive Media Bias Chart®️. Click Here!

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Bias: Hyper-Partisan Left

Reliability: Mixed Reliability/Opinion OR Other Issues

Overall Score

The following are the overall bias and reliability scores for The Root according to our Ad Fontes Media ratings methodology.

Bias: -18.47

Reliability: 26.51

Bias scores for articles and shows are on a scale of -42 to +42, with higher negative scores being more left, higher positive scores being more right, and scores closer to zero being minimally biased, equally balanced, or exhibiting a centrist bias.

Reliability scores for articles and shows are on a scale of 0-64. Scores above 36 are generally good; scores below 24 are generally problematic. Scores between 24-36 indicate a range of possibilities, with some sources falling there because they are heavy in opinion and/or analysis, and some because they have a high variation in reliability between content pieces.

Panels of analysts from Ad Fontes Media regularly review representative sample content to rate it for reliability and bias. Each panel of analysts comprises one left-leaning, one right-leaning, and one center-leaning analyst.

The team considers a variety of factors when rating content. To determine the bias score of a piece of content, we consider its language, its political position, and how it compares to other reporting from other sources on the same topic. We add each of these scores to the chart on a weighted scale, with the average of those creating the source’s overall bias score.

To determine its reliability score, we consider the content’s veracity, expression, its title/headline, and graphics. We add each of these scores to the chart on a weighted scale, with the average of those creating the source’s overall reliability score.

The bias rating, demonstrated on the horizontal axis of the Media Bias Chart®️, ranges from most extreme left to middle to most extreme right. The reliability rating, demonstrated on the chart’s vertical axis, rates sources on a scale from original fact reporting to analysis, opinion, selective/incomplete, misleading, and inaccurate/fabricated information.

Individual Content Sample Scores

These are the most recent content samples that Ad Fontes Media analysts have rated for this source.

Content Sample URL Bias Reliability
Professor: Dems Finally Grew a Spine and Ready to Fight Dirty as Trump Schemes to Erase Black, Hispanic Votes in T-18.3331.0
Wait... What? Folks In Red States Google Searched 'How To Change My Vote' In Droves After Trump's Victory-5.3331.33
A Sleeping Black Mother of Six Was Killed in Random Drive-By Shooting, But it Was Almost a Lot Worse-6.6741.0
Why Isn’t The Ouster of Harvard's First Black President Going Viral Among Black Folks? Maybe Because Claudine Gay Doesn't Feel Like She's One of Us.-17.6730.33
Funny? Dave Chappelle Comes After Disabled and Transgender People in New Special-13.3330.33
Teenage Black Girl Stabbed to Death After Friend Allegedly Refused Flowers From Ex-Boyfriend0.034.67
Why The Indictment of Protesters in Atlanta Should Scare Everyone-19.3323.67
Tim Scott Once Again Disrespects Black People In Attempt To Win Voters During 2nd Republican Debate-20.6722.67
Kanye West Sued Over Alleged Unsafe Conditions, ‘Unpaid Wages’ in Malibu Beach Home Renovation0.036.67
Hey, Sean Penn. Keep Will Smith’s Name Out Your Mouth-1.3327.33
Central Park 5 Member Yusef Salaam Drags Trump In New York Times Ad-12.336.33
Reps. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones Were Reinstated, But That Doesn't Mean This is Over!-18.6727.33
Here's The Times Blac Chyna's Mom Was Mom Toxic To Her Than The Kardashians0.029.67
Doulas Save Black Lives; A New Directory Helps Mothers Find One-1044.0
Texas Couple's Infant Taken From Home For Taking Advice From Their Midwife0.029.0
Heartbreaking Developments In The Shanquella Robinson Case0.041.0
Like Black Twitter, Irish Twitter Has a Lot to Say About Queen Elizabeth's Passing-10.6727.67
Police ‘Attack’ 11-Year-Old Boy at State Fair-8.6743.0
Meghan Markle's Sister is Suing Her for Comments Made in Oprah Interview0.042.67
Brittney Griner Found Guilty and Sentenced Years for Drug Possession and Smuggling [UPDATED]-939.33
Sha’Carri Richardson Questions Kamila Valieva’s Inclusion in the Olympics Following a Positive Test-7.3334.67
Jussie Smollett Found Guilty of Faking Hate Crime0.045.33
Kyle Rittenhouse Cries During His Testimony-736.0
White “Anti” Karen Wows Black TikTokers with Her Shade on White Women-11.6731.33
Virginia Elects First Black Woman Lt. Governor-8.6740.0