Washington’s Top News Bias and Reliability

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Compare the scores of Washington's Top News WTOP to other sources on our free Interactive Media Bias Chart. Click Here!

Bias: Middle

Reliability: Reliable, Analysis/Fact Reporting

Overall Score

The following are the overall bias and reliability scores for Washington's Top News WTOP according to our Ad Fontes Media ratings methodology.

Reliability: 46.44

Bias: -0.32

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
Biden sees US economy as powering past the pandemic -5.33 39.67
‘We couldn’t keep doing the same thing’ — Va. Liberation party candidate Princess Blanding -3 40.67
Montgomery County schools considering 3 schedules for next school year 0 46.33
Swift vaccine rollout for children 5-11 in Montgomery Co. a ‘game-changer’ for less disruption to schools 0 45
Prince William School Board adds gender-identity to non-discrimination policy -2 45.67
Mother of Karon Hylton-Brown’s daughter seeks $100M over police chase death -3.33 45
Charges filed against owner of escaped zebras in Prince George’s County 0 47.33
Fauci: ‘Open season’ for COVID-19 vaccine could begin in April -2 45.67
Fairfax Co. school board considers new calendar to address learning loss from pandemic -0.33 46
Bowser, Hogan, Northam ask for dedicated COVID-19 vaccines, support for federal, Metro workers -0.33 46
COVID-19 variants found in DC; more vaccine doses on the way 0 47
‘Creating a mess’: Link sharing, rumor mill gum up vaccine clinic in Montgomery Co. 0 47.33
Montgomery Co. music teacher sentenced for child porn possession 0 49.33
Two more DC-area museums will close Monday as COVID-19 cases surge 0 49
Arlington Co. police charges man for sexual battery 0 48.67
Maryland businesses brace for impact of reimposed COVID-19 restrictions 0 48.33
Arlington Co. teacher removed after insensitive lesson references George Floyd -2 45.67
Amazon gives millions to local nonprofits as part of its DMV anniversary 0 46.33
1 dead in Silver Spring house fire 0 48
US Navy strongly opposed to Capital Beltway widening project 2.33 45.67
‘Project Giveback Thanksgiving’ returns with a new plan to deliver meals during pandemic -0.33 47.33
DC-area doctor weighs in on how to keep kids safe when sports return 1 42
A half-million unsolicited absentee applications cause confusion in Virginia 1.33 42.67
‘This was brutal’: Maryland man sentenced to 30 years for 2019 rape 0.25 49.5
COVID-19 positive test rate hits new low in Md., on rise around Ocean City 1 53.67

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