Google News
Bias and Reliability

Comparison of Topics Shown on Google News vs Media Website

For each search term or topic, Biasly compared the number of articles from a media outlet in the first 2 pages (also called the Top 20) with the number of articles available on that topic on the outlet’s website.

Here is a breakdown of three hot-topic political search terms:

• Search Term: “Affirmative Action”

When searching for the term “Affirmative Action” over the last 30 days, 2 of the 4 (50%) articles on Google News were from Liberal sources (Politico and The Atlantic), and the remaining 2 articles were from the Center (Reuters). Notably, no Conservative outlets were present in these search results.

• Search Term: “Abortion”

When searching for the term “Abortion” over the last 30 days (often spanning the Top 50-100 results), 13 of the 24 (54%) articles on Google News were from Liberal sources, and the remaining 11 articles (45%) were from the Center. No Conservative sources were represented in the search results.

• Search Term: “Gun Laws”

When searching for the term “Gun Laws” over the last 30 days, 7 of the 17 (41%) articles on Google News were from Conservative sources, 6 of the 17 (35%) were from Liberal sources, and the remaining 4 articles (23.53%) were from the Center. 3 out of 6 Center sources and 4 out of 6 Liberal sources were featured on Google News’ Top 20 compared with just 2 Conservative outlets. The remaining Conservative outlets were shown after the first 2 pages.

News Topics Ranked by Popularity on Google News

Through another experiment, Biasly analyzed popular topics shown in Google News by counting the number of articles for those topics shown within the last 30 days. Abortion was the most popular topic with 24 articles appearing in Google News search results in December, even though Roe vs Wade was overthrown quite earlier in the year on June 24, 2022. Other popular topics included COVID-19, immigration, and gun laws.

Biasly analyzed the share of Conservative, Liberal, and Center news sources for all topics. On the most popular topics like abortion, immigration, and COVID-19, Conservatives had little to no representation. Out of 20 search terms (5 search terms were excluded due to lack of data), the only topics where Conservative outlets fared better than Liberal and Center sources were gun laws, minimum wage, socialism, and charter schools. Through this, we can see Google News displays bias in favor of gun laws, minimum wage, socialism, and charter schools.

Media Source Appearances in Google News in the Last 30 Days

Biasly looked at the number of appearances in Google News over the last 30 days (within the first 10 pages of Google News search results) across all topics for each media outlet. Liberal and Center sources dominated, with only Fox News and WSJ making an appearance from Conservative outlets (2 out of 6), in contrast to all Liberal and Center outlets being featured on Google News in the last 30 days.

Media Source Appearances in Google News Top 20

Finally, Biasly evaluated the number of appearances in Google News’ Top 20 across all topics for each media outlet. Liberal and Center sources dominated the rankings with only Fox News and WSJ making an appearance from Conservative outlets (2 out of 6) in contrast to 5 out 6  Liberal (the Atlantic was the only Liberal source to not feature in the Top 20) and 5 out of 6 Center outlets making an appearance (VOA News was the only Center source to not be featured in the Top 20).

When searching for the term “Affirmative Action” over the last 30 days, 2 of the 4 (50%) articles on Google News were from liberal sources (Politico and The Atlantic), and the remaining 2 articles were from the Center (Reuters). Notably, no conservative outlets were present in these search results.

• Search Term: “Abortion”

When searching for the term “Abortion” over the last 30 days (often spanning to the Top 50-100 results), 13 of the 24 (54%) articles on Google News were from Liberal sources, and the remaining 11 articles (45%) were from the Center. No Conservative sources were represented in the search results.

In 2020, Ahrefs conducted a study on organic search performance between Liberal and Conservative news sites and found that Liberal news sites got more traffic. Northwestern researchers Nicholas Diakopoulos and Daniel Trielli found Google’s “Top Stories” section, which appears at the top of search results, favors a small number of media sources leaning left. This article delves into Google News’s editorial tendencies to explore whether political bias is present and, if so, to what degree.

Is Google News Biased?

Based on Biasly’s evaluations, Google News is rated as Somewhat Left.

By examining content patterns and the broader context of media influence, we aim to offer a balanced perspective on Google News’s political bias—and contribute to the ongoing discussion about bias in the news.

How Does Biasly Rate News Sources?

Biasly uses proprietary algorithms and a team of analysts to provide comprehensive bias evaluations across thousands of news outlets. Over 200,000 articles from more than 3,200 sources have been analyzed to identify the most accurate and unbiased stories.

Biasly assigns each outlet three key scores:

• Reliability Score – Reflects factual accuracy
• AI Bias Score – Generated via natural language processing
• Analyst Bias Score – Assessed by human political analysts

These scores are based on seven core metrics: Tone, Tendency, Diction, Author Check, Selection/Omission, Expediency Bias, and Accuracy. These elements help analysts and algorithms evaluate the political attitude conveyed by each article.

Biasly’s Bias Meter ranges from -100% (most left) to +100% (most right), with 0% indicating neutrality. The system evaluates individual articles based on political terms, policies, figures, and sentiment to calculate precise bias ratings.

Is Google News Politically Biased?

Google News earns a Somewhat Left rating for its AI Bias Score and a Somewhat Left for its Analyst Bias Score. The Analyst Bias Score is generated by reviewers from liberal, moderate, and conservative backgrounds. Analysts reviewed 15 Google News articles and noted preferences in areas like coverage of liberal politicians and policy topics such as abortion rights and affirmative action. However, the paper maintained objectivity on topics like education and national security.

How to Evaluate Bias

Although Biasly rates Google News as Somewhat Left, it’s important to remember that bias can vary from article to article. So, let’s learn how to evaluate media bias.

Recognizing media bias requires awareness and critical thinking. Often, readers trust news sources that affirm their existing beliefs—a psychological tendency known as confirmation bias. This makes it harder to identify slanted narratives or one-sided reporting.

To combat this, it’s essential to challenge your assumptions by consulting multiple viewpoints and verifying news through third-party analysis. Tools like Biasly’s media bias ratings allow readers to compare the same news story across the political spectrum.

Ultimately, bias isn’t always a matter of what is said—it’s also about what is left out, how topics are framed, and which stories are chosen for coverage. Learning to recognize these patterns can help readers make more informed decisions and develop greater media literacy.

To start comparing news outlets and gain a better understanding of bias, sign up for Biasly’s Media Bias & News Analytics Platform to see how stories vary between sources.

So How Does Google News Fare in Its Reliability?

The political reliability index developed by Biasly assesses both accuracy and trustworthiness. Google News currently holds N/A Reliability Score, which is calculated as a weighted average of:

• Fact Analysis Score – Evaluates the accuracy of claims, facts, and evidence.
• Source Analysis Score – Assesses the number, diversity, and credibility of sources and quotes used.

Google News’s Source Analysis Score is Limited at 0% Reliable. This suggests moderate trustworthiness in the sourcing practices of the articles it recommends. The score is AI-generated and considers quote length, frequency, diversity, and quality.

The Fact Analysis Score of Google News is Pending at N/A. This further shows how well Google News supports its claims, addresses selection and omission bias, and presents verifiable evidence.

While Google News leans toward factual reporting, occasional lapses—such as unbalanced viewpoints or incomplete data—can affect its reliability rating. These nuances emphasize the importance of analyzing individual articles.

Google News’s Accuracy and Reliability

According to Biasly’s analysis, Google News maintains N/A Reliability Score, but individual articles may vary significantly. Let’s dive into the details.

Two common types of bias that affect factuality include:

• Selection Bias – Highlighting or omitting stories to fit a particular narrative.
• Omission Bias – Leaving out differing perspectives or relevant details to skew perception.

Biasly’s accuracy ratings use a scale from 1% (least accurate) to 100% (most accurate). Factors include the presence of supporting evidence, internal and external reliable sources, and balanced viewpoints.

So, is Google News Reliable?

Overall, Google News can be considered to be an outlet that is N/A reliable. It demonstrates a consistent goal of journalistic integrity and typically supports claims with sources and quotes. Occasional omissions and framing bias do appear, particularly on culturally sensitive or partisan issues.

As media literacy improves, readers can more easily detect issues with selection bias, omission bias, and factuality. To strengthen your ability to assess reliability across the political spectrum, use Biasly’s News Bias Checker to compare how multiple outlets report the same story.

This empowers you to consume more accurate, balanced, and dependable news.

Policy and Issue Framing

When covering the environment, Google News often includes articles that describe Trump’s policies as “rollbacks,” “stripping federal protection,” and focus on the effects these policies have on endangered and marginalized species. This focus reflects a liberal framing.

Issues such as Trump’s foreign policy are often framed in a more critical tone, focusing on drawbacks or perceived oversights rather than offering a neutral or balanced perspective on his policies.

Coverage and Relevance

Google News’s reporting often touches on key issues central to the political bias discussion — including elections and foreign military policy. As such, it serves as a compelling case study for examining source bias and news media bias in state-focused reporting.

Readers who wish to further explore how Google News compares with other publications can visit Biasly’s Media Bias Chart to analyze tone and word choice in real time.

Related Tools and Resource Pages

To better understand how Google News fits into the broader media landscape, we recommend exploring these helpful resources:

• Media Bias Chart: See where Google News ranks among hundreds of media outlets across the political spectrum.
• Political Bias Chart: Visualize political slants of news sources across various policy areas.
• Journalist Bias Analytics Platform: Explore how individual journalists contribute to bias within their publications.
• Politician Bias Analytics Platform: Compare how politicians are framed differently by Google News and other outlets.
• Media Literacy Education Platform: Learn how to critically assess media sources, bias techniques, and news reliability.