Overview

Ad Fontes Media rates Chicago Tribune in the Middle category of bias and as Reliable, Analysis/Fact Reporting in terms of reliability. Chicago Tribune is a daily newspaper and the largest news organization in the Midwest, with a focus on the Chicago, IL, area. Founded in 1847, it is owned by Tribune Publishing and is the most widely read daily news in the greater Chicago Metropolitan and Great Lakes areas.

Overall Score

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

Reliability: 44.67

Bias: -4.24

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 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 sample content’s overall reliability score.

To determine sample content’s bias score, we consider its language, its political position, and how it compares to other reporting or analysis 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 content’s overall bias score.

The bias rating, demonstrated on the Media Bias Chart^®️ on the horizontal axis, 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, propaganda and inaccurate/fabricated information.

Reliability scores for articles and shows are on a scale of 0-64. Scores above 40 are generally good; scores below 24 are generally problematic. Scores between 24-40 indicate a range of possibilities, with some sources falling there because they are heavy in opinion and analysis, and some because they have a high variation in reliability between articles.

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.

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
Family of slain 7-year-old gathers on his block to remember him and call for justice	0	45
Long COVID looms even as Chicago hospital admissions decline	-2.33	41.67
Daily horoscope for June 29, 2023	0	24.33
How the Chicago Bulls match up with the Toronto Raptors in tonight’s NBA play-in game	0	37.33
‘I control the contract’: Longtime Madigan precinct captain Ed Moody takes stand in ‘ComEd Four’ bribery trial, says speaker set him up with lobbying deal	-2	40
‘What did you say they would give me?’: 1st undercover recordings by Ald. Daniel Solis made public in corruption case	0	46.67
In ‘Out of the Loop,’ comics talk about the growing pains of stand-up comedy in Chicago	0	38.33
Chicago selected as site of 2024 Democratic National Convention	-7	43.33
Kyle Rittenhouse judge stops proceedings, fumes about media criticism	-2	43.33
Media seeks courtroom access to R. Kelly’s trial, saying it’s at the nexus of ‘race, gender and sexual violence’	0	42.33
Chicago police Superintendent David Brown’s choice on merit promotions just his latest reversal of predecessor’s policies	0.33	41
At march for slain National Guard member, family cries out for justice	0	44
No bail for man accused of killing witness in a murder case	0	45.33
Activists who helped craft civilian police oversight plan cheer its passage — and vow to fight for more reforms	-12.33	41.67
Editorial: Many Chicagoans don’t trust police. Civilian oversight will help.	-9	35.67
Column: Cynical GOP laws barring transgender youth from sports will fail, but kids will be hurt along the way	-12	35.33
US surgeon general worries over increasing COVID-19 cases nationwide	-1	46
‘The workforce that’s returning is not the same’: As employees return to offices, they may bring new addictions with them	0	44.67
Money in Illinois politics: Giannoulias has big funding lead in secretary of state race; Rabine outspends GOP governor foes; Duckworth has $5 million on hand	0	45.67
Pete Buttigieg spotlights Red Line South extension while in Chicago to push for Biden infrastructure deal	-3.33	44.67
Surging number of suburban school districts will let parents decide if their students will be masked in the fall: ‘We’re getting kids their freedom back’	3	42
Date rapes are hard to investigate and prosecute. A new Illinois bill would more clearly define consent in these cases.	0	45.67
Musicians rehearse in parking garages after the pandemic fades — yes, that’s a tuba you’re hearing	0	45
In Chinatown, many are eager to get back to business in a neighborhood heavily reliant on tourism, but caution over crime and COVID lingers	-0.67	47
Eating out costing more as Chicago restaurants emerge from the pandemic — and price hikes may not slow down anytime soon	-1.67	46.33