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Bias Meter

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-100%
Liberal

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Conservative

Bias Meter

How the Rating is Determined
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Forbes has a Bias Score of 12% Somewhat Right which is based on a variety of factors including its policy and politician leanings, article ratings, and the use of biased language. Its Reliability is rated as Good, and additional analytical insights are available in the other tabs.

  • Bias Rating

    12% Somewhat Right

  • Policy Leanings

    18% Somewhat Right

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    Somewhat Liberal

    Center

    Somewhat Conservative

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    -100%
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    Average Reliability

    *Our bias meter rating uses data science including sentiment analysis, machine learning and our proprietary algorithm for determining biases in news articles. Bias scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores being more liberal and higher positive scores being more conservative and 0% being neutral. The rating is an independent analysis and is not affiliated nor sponsored by the news source or any other organization.

  • Politician Portrayal

    13% negative

Forbes Editorial Patterns

Forbes’ coverage of political topics often reflects a Somewhat Right bias, with consistent patterns in phrasing, source selection, and thematic focus that lean conservative. While the publication demonstrates journalistic standards in many of its reports, the choice of issues, framing, and word usage can indicate a political slant. This content analysis examines how Forbes handles liberal and conservative issues and evaluates its language choices and editorial tendencies.

Coverage of Liberal vs. Conservative Topics

Forbes frequently covers climate change, clean energy, social equity, and diversity in leadership. These issues align with liberal policy priorities. Articles often highlight ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategies, especially in finance and corporate responsibility. Writers profile progressive entrepreneurs, renewable innovations, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) metrics. Forbes promotes startup culture, tech disruption, and alternative education—values common among younger, liberal-leaning readers. Coverage of healthcare access and student debt includes sympathetic tones and reform-friendly framing. Liberal topics receive prominent placement during election cycles or policy shifts.

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Forbes Bias Analysis

Forbes was founded in 1917 by the Scottish-American financial journalist, B.C. Forbes. The company was founded upon bold business leadership and the belief in entrepreneurial capitalism. Today, Forbes operates under the mission of “driving systemic change in business, culture, and society.” Its magazine chronicles business leaders and their influence on industry, innovation, and society. Today Forbes reaches a global audience of 109.2 million, with 5.7 million readers and a social footprint of 52.1 million. Forbes has also earned more than 150 awards for its content and business journalism. This makes the outlet a well-known source for media fact checkers looking to analyze bias in journalism.

Sherry Phillips is the current CEO, with over 25 years of media experience and a background in digital and print. Under her leadership in 2020, Forbes quickly adapted to virtual events during the pandemic and hosted over 60 events. Nina Gould, Chief Innovation Officer, leads teams that shape Forbes’ digital presence across web, mobile, and emerging platforms. Gould has helped grow Forbes into a top-30 U.S. site, ranking alongside brands like Apple, Netflix, and Google. According to Pew Research, 78% of Americans have heard of Forbes, and 23% say they trust it as a news source.

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Forbes Reliability Analysis

Forbes magazine, with its focus on business, entrepreneurship, and innovation, caters to this audience of highly educated and accomplished readers. The U.S. bureau of labor statistics shows that in today’s U.S. labour market, 69.9% of financial operations and management occupations require a four-year degree or more. Data USA also shows the highest paying industry, by average wage, to be Securities, commodities, funds, trusts & other financial investments.

Bar chart showing industry rankings by average salary in 2023, with financial investments ranked highest and bowling centers ranked lowest. Salaries range from under $40,000 to over $160,000.

Source: Data USA

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Additional Insights

News Source Comparison

Comparing news sources like Forbes with others across the media landscape highlights how political perspectives and audience priorities influence reporting styles and perceived reliability. For example, The Wall Street Journal leans more conservative and often emphasizes political controversies, while Forbes tends to blend business insights with subtle liberal framing. Some outlets focus heavily on culture or social issues, whereas others prioritize economic analysis or policy debates. These differences shape tone, topic choice, and framing, reflecting distinct editorial goals. Recognizing such contrasts helps readers navigate diverse viewpoints, identify biases, and develop a well-rounded understanding of complex issues in today’s fast-changing media environment.

Notable Contributors and Authors

Forbes maintains a diverse and dynamic contributor network, with over 2,800 editors, journalists, and contributors globally.

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Ratings are based on recent news using data science and A.I. technology.