Every day, our team of analysts is busy rating news articles and episodes for both bias and reliability.

Each article or show is rated by at least three analysts – one left-leaning, one right-leaning and one center, politically. All of our media analysts complete a training period that includes a thorough introduction to our methodology, as well as practice rating articles and other news content. We purposefully assign each analyst a breadth of coverage over as many sources as possible to enhance each analyst’s familiarity with sources across the spectrum.

Analysts generally score articles similarly following our analysis training, regardless of their political lean; however, when significant differences occur, the group engages in a conversation during which analysts present their rationale for their respective scores.

We do not rate the merits of political positions. Rather, we place the content where it descriptively belongs relative to the current range of political thought within the United States. When scoring for reliability, our method focuses on classifying content along a continuum including fact, analysis, opinion, incomplete story, propaganda, and fabricated information.

All of the above minimizes the impact of analyst bias on reliability and source bias scoring. It results in a rating of sources that many individuals, instructors, and other stakeholders find helpful in navigating today’s news ecosystem.

Working as an analyst

Most of our analysts work part time, and all work fully remote. This is a paid position at $20/hour, and analysts are required to work a minimum of six hours per week.

Please note: There are currently no open analyst positions, but applications are being accepted for future consideration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Has a passionate interest in news media, contemporary U.S. politics, and the work and mission of Ad Fontes Media
• Has completed a bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrates excellent reading comprehension skills
• Demonstrates excellent analytical skills
• Demonstrates ability to engage in sometimes difficult conversations, including on sensitive issues
• Demonstrates ability to see issues from multiple perspectives while also respectfully expressing a dissenting perspective when applicable
• Lives in the United States, and is politically/civically engaged
• Has a personal computer and reliable internet, and is able to troubleshoot basic technical issues
• Is familiar with a range of news sources
• Is familiar with party platforms and government systems in the U.S.
• Is willing to divulge political leanings internally as required by our approach to analysis

Strong Qualifications

• Has achieved an advanced degree, or a highly relevant undergraduate degree, in Media, Journalism, Political Science, Linguistics, History, Sociology, Philosophy, or other fields requiring strong skills in analyzing information content