Overview

Ad Fontes Media rates Deseret News in the Middle category of bias and as Reliable, Analysis/Fact Reporting in terms of reliability. Deseret News is the longest-running newspaper in Utah, founded in 1850 by pioneers at “the edge of the American frontier.” It is a subsidiary of the Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Deseret News is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Overall Score

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

Reliability: 42.28

Bias: 2.24

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
Thanksgiving 2023: How many turkeys are killed for Thanksgiving?	0	42.67
Cougars and Charlie Brown are chasing the same Thanksgiving dream	0	39.33
Analysis: BYU hands No. 14 Oklahoma a Big 12 going-away present, coughs up football 3 times in 31-24 loss	0	45.33
Babies moved from hospital in Gaza, hostage negotiations are nearing a deal	0	44.67
Opinion: The stalled trade program costing Utah millions	0	35.33
Can ocean pipeline save the Great Salt Lake? New report cites staggering costs	0	42.33
Will Green River be home to a new lithium mine to help U.S. go ‘green’?	0	45
SLC mayoral candidates make final push for votes before election day	-0.67	44
Could the Oakland A’s find a temporary home in Salt Lake City?	0	41.33
Souvenir store launched by a prison guard during a pandemic is going strong in downtown Salt Lake City	0	41.67
‘I’m afraid of the kids we’re leaving our country’ — a conversation with civics educator Jack Miller	7.33	36.67
Presidential debate coming to Utah	0	41
Does money buy happiness? How much money does it take to be happy?	0	41
Zach Wilson is staying on the bench	0	42.67
How long were Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter married?	0	39.67
What are diversity statements and how do they hurt higher ed?	12	34
Should the Utah A.G. be appointed rather than elected? Reyes’ relationship with Tim Ballard prompts discussion	9.33	29
Was armed Colorado man found dead about to carry out mass shooting?	0	43.33
Perspective: As a survivor and Latter-day Saint, here’s what I think AP missed in Arizona abuse case	0	35
Senate passes bill to avert government shutdown — Lee, Crapo, Risch vote ‘no’	0	45.33
What you don’t know about illicit drugs in Utah could kill you	0	46
BYU men and women headed to NCAA XC championships with a No. 3 ranking	0	44.67
The law that changed religious freedom forever	-1	46.33
Gen Z teens lonelier, less likely to do drugs, new report finds	0	48.33
Fizz without the guilt: Are healthy sodas worth it?	0	40.33