8% Center
Bias Meter
Extremely
Liberal
Very
Liberal
Somewhat Liberal
Center
Somewhat Conservative
Very
Conservative
Extremely
Conservative
-100%
Liberal
100%
Conservative
Biasly determines media bias ratings through a dual-layered approach combining artificial intelligence and analyst review. The platform’s proprietary bias detection engine, Bias Meter, evaluates sentiment, policy position alignment, and language framing across thousands of data points in news articles. Analysts then verify and interpret the AI’s findings, providing additional context where needed. Learn more about ratings
- Profile

FOX 13 News Utah on the media bias chart
- Bias Rating
8% Center
- Reliability86% Reliable GoodPolicy Leanings
12% Somewhat Right
Extremely
LiberalVery
LiberalModerately
LiberalSomewhat Liberal
Center
Somewhat Conservative
Moderately
ConservativeVery
ConservativeExtremely
Conservative-100%
Liberal100%
Conservative
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 Portrayal79% negative
Continue For Free
Create your free account to see the in-depth bias analytics and more.
By creating an account, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy, and subscribe to email updates.
Log In
Log in to your account to see the in-depth bias analytics and more.
Analysis of FOX 13 News Utah Articles
Analysis of Bias in FOX 13 News Utah Online Articles
To evaluate this, we can analyze select FOX 13 News Utah articles through several of Biasly’s bias rating criteria: Tone, Tendency, Author, Diction, and Expediency Bias.
- Tone: The overall attitude conveyed by the article
- Diction: Specific word choices made by the writer
- Author: The background and social presence of the journalist
- Tendency: Patterns of bias in the writer’s broader body of work
- Expediency Bias: Quick visual or textual indicators like headlines and photos that imply bias

Source: FOX 13 News Utah
To examine expediency bias within FOX 13 News Utah, the article “Trump attacks reliably Republican Utah for vote-by-mail, which helped him win election” can be analyzed. The headline features President Trump’s election integrity claims against the state of Utah. While this headline could be framed more partisanly, it explains why Trump’s criticism of Utah is notable: Utah has been reliably Republican and has voted as such in his previous elections. The thumbnail image for the news clip shows President Trump pointing his finger, appearing accusatory, which aligns with the headline’s tone.
The article begins with reporter Ben Winslow explaining the peculiarity of the situation: Utah has voted by mail since 2013 and has reliably voted Republican despite the growth in popularity of mail-in balloting. Winslow highlights Trump’s original claims, which were made through his social media site, Truth Social.
“‘It seems as though the Great State of Utah, which I won each time, and handily, is going to the All Mail In Ballot format of Colorado, and the rest, that always head LEFT, as soon as the move is made. We should stop Utah from doing this … Does the Republican Party have any idea what is happening to it? Step by step, State by State, the Democrats are smiling all the way to the ‘Bank.’ Stop the onslaught by either immediately terminating the Filibuster and/or pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT! President DONALD J. TRUMP,’ he wrote.”
Rather than endorsing President Trump, Winslow remains neutral and factual within his account of this article. For example, instead of overloaded and charged language that would be indicative of a hard-leaning bias, neutral words such as “suggested” and “unverified” were used to describe Trump’s claims. Additionally, many of the word choices can be supported by evidence; for example, “reliably Republican” was used to describe Utah, which is accurate as per its voting record. Highlighting Trump’s previous electoral success under Utah’s voting system places his criticism in additional context and may lead readers to perceive tension between his current position and the state’s electoral history.
The article proceeds with a neutral-toned narrative. Rather than a narrative that focuses on how Trump’s assessments of mail-in ballots in Utah could help one party or the other, Winslow focuses on reporting various perspectives from Democrats, Republicans, and Trump.
Reporter Ben Winslow has a record of largely neutral framing and tone within his work. As a reporter who has covered Utah government and politics for more than 20 years, he has covered a wide range of topics, including both Republican and Democratic initiatives. The social-media example reviewed here does not contain obvious partisan commentary and instead posts largely links to reporting or factual updates. This can be observed on Ben Winslow’s Facebook Profile.
In another FOX 13 News Utah article, “Judge grants Trump admin’s request to dismiss January 6 case against Proud Boys,” it focuses on a federal judge granting the Trump administration’s request to dismiss the January 6 seditious conspiracy case against members of the Proud Boys and does so through a legal and political perspective.
Reporter Mary Kay Mallonnee does not appear to have a clear political bias when examining her social platforms such as X. Instead, Mallonnee uses the platform to repost news on politics and government from others, and her account lacks her own posts. For example, she reposted:
NEW: Top USAID security officials put on leave after DOGE officials showed up last night demanding entry. Threatened to call US Marshals, looking to access to security systems, personnel files and classified information, sources tell @jmhansler & me https://t.co/WfXD5AaOeu
— Alex Marquardt (@MarquardtA) February 2, 2025
This article displays moderate bias when it discusses broader political implications of the dismissal rather than focusing solely on the judge’s reasoning. For example, statements such as “undoing one of the Biden administration’s celebrated victories” can lead to a focus on political consequence over legal decisions. Despite this, the article utilizes reliable sources such as court records and official statements rather than opinion.
In summary, FOX 13 News Utah presents little bias within its articles. FOX 13 News Utah maintains a generally neutral and straight news reporting style. Articles from FOX 13 News Utah often utilize attributed statements, include multiple perspectives, and do not promote a clear partisan position.
Analysis of FOX 13 News Utah Opinion Articles
To fully understand political bias in media, it’s important to distinguish between factual reporting and opinion pieces. While reporting aims to present facts and let readers form their own conclusions, opinion articles express personal viewpoints on current issues. While FOX 13 News Utah does not have a traditional opinion section, some political articles can still be analyzed for how they frame political issues, public figures, and public policy.
For example, the article “One year after passage, Trump health care law remains politically divisive” focuses on Utah’s decision not to pursue a constitutional amendment regarding the citizen ballot initiatives. The article presents the issue through a political accountability lens rather than through the lens of legislative power and citizen initiatives. Instead, while the article was largely factual, it emphasised tensions between lawmakers and voters by highlighting previous conflicts. This article displayed a slight left-leaning tendency.
In another example, the article “Trump touts a major TrumpRx expansion, adding more than 600 generic drugs” focuses on the Trump administration’s claims about lowering drug costs while also presenting critics who question the program’s effectiveness. The overall diction of this article was neutral, and the framing was more balanced with little partisan leaning. Though this article can be perceived differently based on reader opinions, because opposing viewpoints were presented, this keeps the article from portraying political favor towards one party or the other.
Overall,FOX 13 News Utahshows a low political or ideological tendency within its articles and is consistent with mainstream journalistic practices rather than ideological advocacy.
Analysis of Reliability in FOX 13 News Utah’s Online News Articles
FOX 13 News Utah aims to provide readers and the audience with the latest updates on local news, including weather reports, news updates, local government, etc. In addition to this, they also cover national politics, sports news, and entertainment.
One notable example to look at is an article titled “DOJ warns Henderson of ‘criminal prosecution’ in letter over Utah voter info,” which focuses on how criminal prosecution may be the next step if chief election officers decide to keep non-citizens on voter rolls. This was a part of the DOJ’s request for Utah’s voter information. In this particular situation, it was targeted at Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, who is also the chief election officer. Henderson responds on her social media site, stating:
“I’m sure I’m not the only chief election officer of a state who is being targeted for following state and federal laws by resisting DOJ’s demands for private voter data that have thus far been ruled illegal by at least a dozen courts. This is truly bizarre behavior by the federal agency that is supposed to be protecting civil rights.”
While this article does include multiple perspectives, it is not fully balanced as Henderson’s viewpoint is more emphasized than the Department of Justice’s. Additionally, this article does lack information from legal experts or organizations that may support the DOJ’s interpretation of the law or independent viewpoints.
Despite this, the article maintains good reliability, as the sources used for this article were primary and identifiable. Some of these sources included the official U.S. Department of Justice Letter, a Threads post from Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, references to an ongoing lawsuit, as well as other organizations (League of Women Voters, NAACP, ACLU, Democratic National Committee). However, readers should still verify from other neutral and reliable sources as well to get a better grasp on differing viewpoints.
Quality of Sources and Facts Used
FOX 13 News Utah often uses several credible and verifiable sources from across the political spectrum. However, it should be noted that some articles may present a political leaning based on how comprehensively they present opposing, independent, or expert viewpoints.
Consider the article “Some LGBTQ community members say they’re feeling ‘Fidelity Month’ fallout.” This article focuses on Utah’s LGBTQ community concerns when a Pride flag was stolen from a resident’s yard, which some attribute to Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s decision to replace Pride Month recognition with “Fidelity Month.”
The article has credible and identifiable sources from interviews with the Board Chair of Project Rainbow Utah and statistics from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification Hate Crime Statistics and FBI Hate Crime Data. However well-sourced as it is, the article is imbalanced as to what viewpoints are represented, making the article appear somewhat left-leaning.
“Metzler, who used to lead the group Transgender Education Advocates of Utah, believes some of it is fallout from Governor Spencer Cox’s decision to no longer acknowledge LGBTQ Pride month and instead promote something conservative scholars have been pushing called ‘Fidelity Month,’ focusing on ‘faith, family and country.’”
This was the viewpoint of Candice Metzler, from whom the Pride Flag was stolen. There is a larger focus on one perspective from the LGBTQ community, with limited viewpoints from experts such as police as to what the possible motive for stealing the flag is. This lack of information can lead readers to misconnect the cause of a possible petty crime to a larger political agenda if there is no real correlation to “Fidelity Month.”
In contrast, FOX 13 News Utah’s article “A waterless AI data center? A big experiment is under way in rural Utah” explores a partnership between Valar Atomics and NVIDIA to develop an AI data center powered by nuclear energy that could operate without traditional water cooling. The article has a mostly neutral, slightly positive tone toward the project, emphasizing technological innovation, economic growth, and possible solutions to Utah’s water concerns. While it does mention public concerns about data centers and environmental impacts, the article primarily highlights supporters of the project and does not include many skeptical or independent perspectives.
The article contains 10 direct quotes (including partial quotes in quotation marks). The shortest quote is 2 words, the longest quote is 44 words, and the average quote length is about 20 words. The quotes are generally reliable because they are attributed to identifiable individuals and provide firsthand perspectives from people directly involved in the project. The longer quotes are especially useful because they provide more explanation and reasoning rather than short emotional statements. However, because most quotes come from company leaders and government officials who support the project, they should be considered alongside possible promotional interests.
The article uses 8 distinct sources or source groups. These include Valar Atomics founder Isaiah Taylor, NVIDIA representatives, Utah’s Office of Energy Development, Governor Spencer Cox’s administration, Emery County Commissioner Jordan Leonard, Representative Carl Albrecht, Valar Atomics company officials, and observations from FOX 13’s visit to the reactor site. The source breakdown shows thatall the sources referenced here were center leaning / institutional.
The sources included in the article are:
- Isaiah Taylor, founder of Valar Atomics
- NVIDIA representatives involved in the AI chip demonstration
- Emy Lesofski, director of Utah’s Office of Energy Development
- Governor Spencer Cox’s Office of Energy Development
- Emery County Commissioner Jordan Leonard
- Rep. Carl Albrecht, Republican state legislator from Richfield
- Valar Atomics company officials
- FOX 13 News reporter observations from the San Rafael Energy Lab
The article’s sourcing is somewhat unbalanced, not because it favors a political party, but because nearly every source supports the project. The majority of quoted words come from Valar Atomics, government officials, and community leaders who describe the project as beneficial for Utah’s economy, energy future, and water conservation efforts. There are no environmental organizations, independent nuclear experts, water researchers, or community members who oppose the project included. As a result, readers mainly hear the perspective of people who have a direct interest in the project’s success.
The author uses sources mostly in a positive and supportive way, allowing project leaders and officials to explain why they believe the technology is important. The framing is largely established by Valar Atomics and state officials, whose claims about water savings, economic benefits, and energy production are presented with limited challenge.
The article briefly acknowledges concerns about data centers and environmental impacts through discussion of public protests against other projects, but it does not deeply investigate possible drawbacks or risks.
Based on the number and type of sources used, the article has a generally positive framing toward the project and relies heavily on project proponents. However, it is not strongly partisan and remains closer to the center overall.
The article’s factual accuracy appears to be fairly strong, as the main claims are supported by other reporting about nuclear startups, AI data centers, and Utah’s energy development efforts. The article accurately describes Valar Atomics’ reactor demonstration, NVIDIA’s involvement, and Utah’s interest in expanding nuclear power.
However, some claims—especially that this technology will become a large-scale “waterless” solution for future AI data centers—are still based on company goals and predictions rather than proven commercial results. Overall, the article is reliable for describing what is currently happening, but readers should recognize that the long-term success and environmental benefits of the project remain uncertain.
Selection and Omission Bias
FOX 13 News Utah provides wide coverage over a broad range of topics from sports and politics, down to local news and weather. FOX 13 News Utah remains generally neutral in its reporting style, covering both democratic and republican initiatives with a relative center bias. However, bias does still present itself through selection and omission, which will be analyzed here.
In “Lt. Gov. Henderson fires back at Trump DOJ in voter records lawsuit,” it focuses on the issue of the Department of Justice requesting voter information from the Chief of Elections and Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson. While the article is very much factually sourced and transparent, it articulates a heavier emphasis on viewpoints that are critical of the Department of Justice.
For example, the sources it selected from are the Lt. Governor and organizations such as the League of Women Voters of Utah, NAACP, ACLU of Utah, and the Democratic National Committee, all of which opposed the DOJ’s request.
Additionally, there is also bias from the omission of information such as whether or not the DOJ’s request is legally justified or expert discussions on the risks or benefits of allowing access to voter information. With both selection and omission bias in play, there is an imbalance, creating a more left-leaning perspective or account of the situation.
In another article, “Judge allows Ogden Valley City to move ahead with property tax increase process,” it focuses on the legal dispute between Ogden Valley City and the Utah State Tax Commission over whether the city can participate in the property tax process for property tax increases. This article takes on a center/neutral bias. While there is a slight possibility of the article having a right-leaning bias, the reporter includes perspectives of opposing sides.
This article presents perspectives within the issue. It addresses how a large property tax increase can raise concerns about government spending. Additionally, it also highlights the size of the tax increase being about 506%. On the other hand, the article also features the city’s argument of needing to raise the tax in order to generate more revenue to operate and provide services. The article highlights the city’s ability to govern itself and find services that would align with the local authority. This balance of varying viewpoints from different ends of the spectrum on this situation is what makes the article more centered and neutral in bias.
With this in mind, while FOX 13 News Utah does have Center views, some articles will vary with slight leanings both to the left and to the right. This is particularly true for articles that are more political. Readers should continue to verify claims and information in these articles with other reliable sites.
FOX 13 News Utah Bias Overview
FOX 13 News Utah, initially known as KSTU, was started on October 9, 1978, as Utah’s first independent station on UHF Channel 20. In 1989, it became a Fox O&O. Over the years, the station transitioned through multiple ownership groups and has been owned by the E.W. Scripps Company since 2019. Mainly known for its television presence, it has also gained popularity as an online news media outlet as well. FOX 13 News Utah has covered several topics, including weather, politics, sports, entertainment, etc., for the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
Fox News is mostly recognized as a trustworthy news outlet, more so by Republicans than Democrats. With 56% of Republicans or Republican leaning individuals trusting the source and 64% of Democrats or Democrat leaning individuals distrusting the source, according to the Pew Research Center. FOX 13 News Utah is different, however, because it does not have a national interest in catering to all individuals across the country but only to those in the state of Utah.

Source: Pew Research
As a leading local media outlet in Utah, FOX 13 News Utah plays a significant role in shaping public perception. Readers’ trust in the accuracy of local news may mirror the conclusions reached by Biasly’s media bias ratings.
Is FOX 13 News Utah Biased?
Based on Biasly’s evaluations, FOX 13 News Utah is rated as Center.
By examining content patterns and the broader context of media influence, we aim to offer a balanced perspective on FOX 13 News Utah’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 FOX 13 News Utah Politically Biased?
FOX 13 News Utah earns a Center rating for its AI Bias Score and a Center for its Analyst Bias Score. Reviewers from liberal, moderate, and conservative backgrounds generate the Analyst Bias Score.
FOX 13 News Utah generally has straightforward reporting on topics such as local news, crime, weather, traffic, and community events. FOX 13 News Utah may have varied coverage of more politically charged topics such as immigration, education policy, and law enforcement. These topics may show differences in framing depending on the subject matter; however, despite the framing, FOX 13 News Utah has been proven to utilize reliable sources and attributed quotes in its articles.
Utah is historically conservative. Pew Research shows that 63% of Utah’s population identifies as Christian, with 50% of those identifying as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Studies show that Mormons are the most strongly affiliated group with the Republican Party. However, Salt Lake City, Utah, is more politically diverse, so regional context may shape how the audience perceives the reporting based on their own political viewpoints.
This Bias score is determined through natural language processing that evaluates the tone, word choice, and opinion embedded in the reporting. Recent AI evaluations identify subtle differences in immigration policy, policing, etc., but generally maintain a factual, straightforward news reporting style across local coverage.
How to Evaluate Bias
Although Biasly rates FOX 13 News Utah as Center, it’s important to remember that bias can vary from article to article. FOX 13 News Utah also covers a conservative-leaning state with objectivity on many issues, from state legislation to social developments. This complexity underscores the importance of examining each article individually. 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 address this, it’s essential to challenge your assumptions by consulting multiple perspectives and verifying information 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.
FOX 13 News Utah Reliability Overview
Is FOX 13 News Utah Reliable?
FOX 13 News Utah findsitself with a Good score as rated by Biasly. Its status as a local news outlet may contribute to its reputation for reliability. According to Pew Research, Americans generally hold less politically polarized views of local news than of national media. In fact, 85% of adults regard local journalism as at least somewhat important to their community.
FOX 13 News Utah is rated as “Excellent” in its fact analysis score, which focuses on the accuracy of claims, facts, and sources. Additionally, this metric also examines for selection and omission bias.
FOX 13 News Utah was rated as “Good” in both multiple quotes and quote length, meaning that its articles have a higher number of quotes that are also long in length.
Lastly, FOX 13 News Utah was rated as “Average” in source analysis, opposite sources, unique sources, and multiple sources. Source analysis evaluates the quality, diversity, uniqueness, and use of sources and quotations to assess the credibility and depth of a news article. Opposite sources, unique sources, and multiple sources focus on the utilization of sources from opposite, unique, or multiple viewpoints.
Further investigation is needed to determine whether bias or other factors are affecting its accuracy. At Biasly, we specialize in evaluating not just bias but also the reliability of media outlets. Let’s explore the accuracy and trustworthiness of FOX 13 News Utah.
How to Evaluate Reliability?
Reliability refers to how trustworthy or accurate a news source is. If we can’t trust what we read, then continuing to consume content from that outlet serves little purpose. So how do we evaluate a news outlet’s reliability?
There are several key indicators of reliability to consider when assessing a media source. Red flags of an unreliable article can include wild, unsubstantiated claims, facts that depend on other unreliable sources, heavy use of opinionated language, and more. In contrast, hallmarks of a reliable source include:
- Absence of subjective language
- Citing credible sources (e.g., .gov, .edu, academic references)
- Verifiable facts and statistics from multiple outlets
- Use of primary sources, like interviews or transcripts
- Consistency with coverage across other platforms
Biasly’s reliability scores incorporate these elements in evaluating media outlets.
So How Does FOX 13 News Utah Fare in Its Reliability?
The political reliability index developed by Biasly assesses both accuracy and trustworthiness. FOX 13 News Utah currently holds Good 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.
FOX 13 News Utah’s Source Analysis Score is Average at 43% Reliable. This suggests moderate trustworthiness in its sourcing practices. The score is AI-generated and considers quote length, frequency, diversity, and quality.
The Fact Analysis Score of FOX 13 News Utah is Excellent at 97% Reliable. This further shows how well FOX 13 News Utah supports its claims, addresses selection and omission bias, and presents verifiable evidence.
While FOX 13 News Utah leans toward factual and straightforward reporting, occasional lapses—such as unbalanced viewpoints or incomplete data—can affect its reliability rating. These nuances emphasize the importance of analyzing individual articles.
FOX 13 News Utah’s Accuracy and Reliability
According to Biasly’s analysis, FOX 13 News Utah maintains Good Reliability Score, but individual articles may vary significantly. Let’s dive into the details.
Political orientation plays a crucial role in how audiences perceive reliability. It’s essential to analyze whether the publication backs its assertions with sufficient evidence and diverse viewpoints.
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 supporting evidence, reliable internal and external sources, and balanced viewpoints.
For example, according to Biasly, Foreign Policy received a Center Bias Rating and a Good Analyst Reliability Score. One article, “The Philippines’ ‘Trial of the Century’ Begins,” received a Good reliability rating because it lacked quote length and source analysis. This means that its quote lengths were shorter than average quotes in other articles, and the credibility (determined by the quality, diversity, and depth of its sources and quoted material) of the article was lower.
In contrast, another article, “Israel Has a Hezbollah Drone Problem,” earned an Excellent reliability rating because it had balanced quotations, expert sources, a factual tone, and diverse perspectives. The article included statements from government, military, think tank, and subject-matter expert sources, allowing readers to consider multiple viewpoints.
So, is FOX 13 News Utah Reliable?
Overall, FOX 13 News Utah can be considered an outlet with Good reliability. The site regularly publishes fact-based reporting and demonstrates a commitment to credible sourcing across most of its content. While some opinion or editorial framing may appear, particularly in commentary sections, the majority of its coverage maintains journalistic integrity and a balanced presentation of perspectives. Occasional gaps in attribution or depth may occur, but they do not significantly undermine the outlet’s overall trustworthiness.
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.
FOX 13 News Utah Editorial Patterns
FOX 13 News Utah’s coverage of political topics often reflects a Center bias, with consistent patterns in phrasing, source selection, and thematic focus that are Neutral. 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 FOX 13 News Utah handles liberal and conservative issues and evaluates its language choices and editorial tendencies.
Coverage of Liberal vs. Conservative Topics
FOX 13 News Utah’s articles vary in how political topics across the spectrum are discussed. For example, in more liberal or left-leaning coverage, reporters may approach the topics with a stronger focus on explaining goals through a neutral lens, whereas in more conservative coverage, there is more contextual scrutiny and discussion of controversy that may be more apparent.
To further examine this, when looking at more liberal coverage such as social programs, educational reform, and public policy, there is a stronger emphasis on the goals behind these initiatives as well as supportive statements from Democratic officials. There is a lesser focus on scrutiny or opposing viewpoints on these topics. For example, in the article, “Sen. Mark Kelly wants more men in classrooms through new legislation,” it discusses Senator Mark Kelly’s education legislation that is more focused on teacher shortages and mentorship opportunities.
“He said the bill would encourage organizations to recruit more men into service programs, increase mentorship opportunities for boys and young men, and help address growing social isolation among young men, which he described as approaching an “epidemic.”
This article highlights the rationale behind the proposal and community benefits more than it highlights opposing viewpoints from critics or potential risks.
In conservative coverage, FOX 13 News Utah’s articles tend to provide more criticism from opponents, historical backgrounds, and an analysis of possible consequences. For example, in “Blue states hit hardest by Trump disaster aid denials, analysis says,” it examines claims of political disparities in federal assistance. This article does include more viewpoints, such as the Trump administration’s defense of its decisions; it provides more information and statistics backing up the lack of Trump’s approval for aid to blue states. The sources used in this article included official government data, political statements, Associated Press analysis, etc.
Overall, while FOX 13 News Utah’s articles are largely centered in tone, there is a difference in the way certain topics are presented. Despite this, it does not undo the reliability of the source.
Policy and Issue Framing
FOX 13 News Utah generally has a neutral and straight reporting style, but can differ in framing depending on the topic involved. Differences seen are most notable through word choice and emphasis rather than openly partisan reporting.
For example, with liberal issues such as healthcare, government spending, LGBTQ equality, or ICE, there is more emphasis placed on the goals and opportunities provided, and issues are commonly addressed. Liberal issues are framed through the lens of community benefits and rationale.
With conservative topics such as the Trump Administration, for example, there is often more controversy and opposition to the subject by nature. Additionally, topics such as ICE, disaster aid, and foreign policy are often followed by more historical context in the article for readers to better comprehend the full extent of the situation. Conservative issues are framed through broader political implications that are raised and discussed.
Coverage and Relevance
FOX 13 News Utah’s reporting often touches on a variety of topics such as weather, local news, sports, entertainment, etc. Additionally, it also focuses on key issues central to the media political bias discussion. 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 FOX 13 News Utah compares with other publications can visit Biasly’s Media Bias Chart to analyze tone and word choice in real time.
Funding and Ownership
Who Owns FOX 13 News Utah?

E.W. Scripps Company Logo – Source: FOX 13 News Utah
Springfield Television of Utah initially founded FOX 13 News Utah and signed on as an independent station on Channel 20 on October 9, 1978. In 1989, FOX 13 News Utah became Fox-owned and operated and remains affiliated with the same network. After a few more changes in ownership, FOX 13 News Utah joined the E.W. Scripps Company in 2019.
The E.W. Scripps Company is publicly traded and is controlled by the Scripps Family shareholders via the Edward W. Scripps Trust as well as institutional investors. Some of these investors include BlackRock, Sinclair Inc., Penn Capital Management, and GAMCO investors. The current president and CEO of the E.W. Scripps Company is Adam P. Symson.
The E.W. Scripps Company is publicly traded but tightly controlled by the Scripps family via the Edward W. Scripps Trust, alongside institutional investors like BlackRock, Sinclair Inc., Penn Capital Management, and GAMCO Investors. Led by President and CEO Adam P. Symson, the enterprise was established in 1878 and operates dozens of local television stations, national news networks, and entertainment channels. The parent company maintains a strict dedication to independent, straight-news journalism, rendering its stations largely free of corporate editorializing or political agendas. Mirroring this corporate standard, KSTU itself maintains a neutral, center bias with high factual standards in its local reporting.
However, readers and audience of FOX 13 News Utah should still be wary of reported content, asFOX 13 News Utah is owned by a larger parent company.
Who Funds FOX 13 News Utah?
FOX 13 News Utah is largely funded by the E.W. Scripps Company, its parent company. The E.W. Scripps Company is a publicly traded broadcasting and media corporation. While FOX 13 News Utah is also affiliated with Fox Broadcast Network, it operates completely independently of the national Fox Corporation.
FOX 13 News Utah’s main source of funding comes from the E.W. Scripps Company, which makes its revenue from corporate advertising, commercial sponsorships, and retransmission fees. This means they generate revenue through selling advertising time to local and national brands as well as political advertising during election cycles. The E. W. Scripps Company publishes its financial reports, filings, stock performance, corporate governance, etc. on its site for transparency.
As with any outlet, funding sources and board priorities can shape newsroom incentives over time and should be monitored by readers. Since FOX 13 News Utah is owned by a parent company, readers and audiences should be somewhat wary of reported content because its sources of funding and revenue can shape incentives. This includes editorial independence, types of stories covered, and bias. E.W. Scripps is known for their practice of political neutrality. Advertising is an important revenue source for commercial television stations, making transparency around advertising and editorial independence relevant when evaluating media ownership.
Additional Insights
News Source Comparison
When it comes to news source comparison, FOX 13 News Utah is often evaluated alongside other regional and national outlets that have balanced or neutral reporting. Sources like The Hill, Newsweek, and Voice of America often present similar tones and editorial philosophies. While FOX 13 News Utah maintains a Center media bias, it differs in that it primarily focuses on local news, weather, public safety, and regional issues affecting Utah communities. While it occasionally covers national stories, its editorial emphasis is on reporting events and developments that are most relevant to local audiences.
This puts it in contrast with more biased media outlets that present consistently one-sided narratives without factual counterpoints. Readers seeking balanced political coverage may compare FOX 13 News Utah’s framing of issues with outlets rated as Center on our Media Bias Chart, or explore other regional papers on our Similar Sources page.
Notable Contributors and Authors
Because FOX 13 News Utah is also a local television news channel, it has a diverse team with specialized roles. The news team features news anchors, weather authority, News Reporters, Investigators, Sports, and “The Place.”
Reporting in FOX 13 News Utah covers a variety of topics. For example, here are some FOX 13 News Utah reporters and what they cover:
- Ben Winslow focuses on government topics
- Mya Constantino focuses on mental health, entertainment, culture, business, tech trends, and the environment
- Corleina Hasset focuses on major trials, controversial legislation, protests, murders, etc.
- Jeremy Tombs focuses on natural disasters and pressing issues
In FOX 13 News Utah’s investigative reporting, Nate Carlisle and Taylor Stevens examine criminal justice, polygamy, military finances, and government. Sports reporters include Jeff Rhineer, Andrea Urban, and Grace Lawrence.
In FOX 13 News Utah’s television presence, it features News Anchors (such as Bob Evans, Jiani Navarro, etc.) and Weather Anchors (Brek Bolton, Nate Larsen, Damon Yauney, and Madi Baggett). FOX 13 News Utah also features a television show titled “The Place,” hosted by Jenny Hardman and Ashley Hawk, which focuses on lifestyle and entertainment and shows outdoor adventures, cooking segments, and community events.
This diverse newsroom structure reflects the station’s focus on providing comprehensive local news and information to Utah audiences. While some contributors may be seen as leaning left in tone or topic selection, their work is generally grounded in factual reporting and neutral or center in tone.
Related Tools and Resource Pages
To better understand how FOX 13 News Utah fits into the broader media landscape, we recommend exploring these helpful resources:
- Media Bias Chart: See where FOX 13 News Utah 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 FOX 13 News Utah and other outlets.
- Media Literacy Education Platform: Learn how to critically assess media sources, bias techniques, and news reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
FOX 13 News Utah is rated as Center based on Biasly’s media bias algorithm, which assesses sentiment, article framing, and policy favorability.
While FOX 13 News Utah has not been widely accused of publishing fake news or systematic misinformation, like many local television news outlets, it has occasionally faced criticism over individual stories or editorial decisions. Overall, its reporting is generally factual and focuses primarily on local news, weather, public safety, and community events rather than opinion or partisan political commentary.
Biasly uses a combination of AI sentiment analysis and human analyst review to assess tone, fact accuracy, source quality, and media bias indicators. Learn more on our Bias Meter page.
Generally, yes. FOX 13 News Utah provides fact-based reporting on local news and community issues, with coverage that is generally factual and consistent with established local television journalism standards.
Military Spending
| Date | Sentiment | Associated Article | Snippet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/25/2019 | 75% For | Trump Family Detentions Flores Agreement (link) | So, of course, the Trump administration is doing the opposite in a baldfaced |




