Overview

Ad Fontes Media rates Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the Skews Left category of bias and as Reliable, Analysis/Fact Reporting in terms of reliability. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is the largest newspaper in Wisconsin, based in Milwaukee. It is a merger between the Sentinel, founded in 1837, and the Journal, founded in 1882. The first edition of the Journal Sentinel was in April 1995. The Journal Sentinel became part of the Gannett media family in 2016, making it part of the USA Today Network.

Overall Score

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

Reliability: 46.99

Bias: -7.01

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
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/23/kamala-harris-speech-campaign-trump/74734878007/	-4.33	45
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2023/09/26/jrue-holiday-is-not-retiring-but-wants-to-end-career-with-milwaukee-bucks/70901607007/	0	43
Violations not fixed, blazes not investigated, warrants not served, deaths not counted	-1	53.67
Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 people before his crimes were discovered. These are the victims and what we knew about them	-0.67	45
'It's just plain unconstitutional': Wisconsin GOP leaders again reject resolution to 'pull back' 2020 electoral votes	0	47.67
A person plowed their SUV through the Waukesha Christmas Parade, leaving five dead and more than 40 injured authorities say	0	46.67
Conflict between Israel and Hamas brings Milwaukee Muslims out in support of Palestinians	-9.67	40.67
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/solutions/2021/01/06/we-witnessed-coup-attempt-now-we-must-choose-democracy-trump/6574180002/	-14.75	34.25
Milwaukee County presidential recount wraps up with Biden adding to his margin over Trump	-2.67	49
With Wisconsin's COVID-19 cases high, some bars and restaurants put themselves on lockdown	-1.33	48.33
Meatpacking plants tied to more COVID-19 cases than known before, new business outbreak data shows	-0.67	49.33
U.S. Postal Service disregards court order to look for ballots in Wisconsin and other swing states	-4	41.33
With a tight margin in Wisconsin, attention turns to a potential recount	0	50.67
'I shouldn't be here': Oshkosh bar owner in ICU with COVID-19 angry with Trump over out-of-control pandemic	-9.67	50.33
Mail found in Greenville ditch did not include any Wisconsin ballots	-4	49.67
25-best-single-game-performances-brewers-postseason-history	0	40.67
Joe Biden meets with Jacob Blake family, says Trump rhetoric 'legitimizes the dark sides of human nature'	-12.67	52.33
Attorney General Josh Kaul declines to provide more details on knife found after Jacob Blake shooting, says most video recovered is dash-cam	-1	52.33
Why we aren't reporting on the records of the victims of the Kenosha protest shooting, and answers to other questions about our coverage	-6.67	40.67
Wisconsin clerks worry about November election as mail-in ballot requests grow	5	49.33
Evers denies clemency to inmates as high heat, COVID risks raise health concerns	-10.33	49
Fannie Lou Hamer's declaration 'I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired' is still a rallying cry for Black people in Milwaukee	-14	40.67
Milwaukee families can apply for money to pay rent from new city assistance program	-7.67	46.33
Shooting of Milwaukee girl: 2-year-old was woman's second child to die	-0.5	47.33
Group of Wisconsin leaders call for answers on federal agents coming to Milwaukee	-5.17	47.83