The Media Credibility Index for 2025 will be published by the Policy Studies Organisation in Washington in Mid November 2025 and will include analysis of at least 100 key Media outlets (press and broadcasting) for at least the prior year. It will have at least 300 recorded incidents of best and worst practice, scoring media outlets on the basis of best practice and worst practice, in accordance with issues raised in the following areas:
- PRESS FREEDOM
- ACCURACY – the use of facts, data, and well sourced material
- ICITEMENT – racist, xenophobic or provocative reporting
- BIAS or BALANCE
- SENSITIVITY – consideration of women’s rights, civil rights, children’s rights (with regard to exposure to violent imagery)
- TRANSPARENCY – no hidden agenda
Plus points are awarded for accurate reporting regardless of intimidation or censorship; minus points are recorded for reporting that, we believe, is cause for concern. The Media Credibility Index reflects issues raised and issues we have researched. We, the editors, will try, in so much as is humanly possible, to be subjective. The editors will be named as will be those who have contributed substantially with more than fifty recorded items contributed to the index.
The Founding Editors are William Morris LL.D., Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, and Mr Jaafar El-Ahmar, Head of the Next Century Foundation UK.
The following is an ongoing project:
ABC News (Australia) – 1
BIAS:
15 September 2024: ABC’s news director, Justin Stevens, admitted a video clip of Australian troops firing from a helicopter in Afghanistan was “incorrectly edited”. Channel Seven accused the ABC of adding gunshot sounds to a video which accompanied a story produced by the ABC’s special investigations unit, headed by Jo Puccini and award-winning reporter Mark Willacy. Seven’s Spotlight program broadcast an interview with former commando Heston Russell about the ABC’s reporting on him. Raw footage of the incident shows that one shot from a helicopter became six shots in the ABC video. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Bias – 1
BBC TELEVISION (UK) + 1
BALANCE:
15 September 2024: For the careful and remarkably fair coverage of Mr Jeremy Bowen, International Editor of BBC News, on the Gaza issue since October 7 2023. This despite being put under considerable pressure. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Balance + 1
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH (UK) – 1
ACCURACY:
6 September 2024: The Daily Telegraph newspaper carried an article in which it strongly implied that the German government was seriously considering using Rwanda as a destination for the processing of asylum seekers. Whereas in reality it was an idea touted by a prominent German politician, which was never seriously considered by the German government. The Telegraph article opened with the words, “Germany is considering deporting migrants to Rwanda, where it could use asylum facilities paid for by the UK”. Miguel Berger, Berlin’s ambassador to the UK, wrote on X: “Let’s be clear, there is no plan of the German Government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda”. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Accuracy – 1
FORTUNE (USA) – 1
ACCURACY:
18 September 2024: Fortune reports today that “Britain alone could lose 500,000 millionaires within the next five years, according to a UBS Wealth report from July”. The implication is that factors such as Brexit and the election of a Labour government have increased the trend. In the first place it is questionable as to whether the UK, with a population of around 68 million actually has half a million millionaires (it would mean that at the very least one in every 200 was a millionaire). On the other hand, the whole statistical basis on which the claims are made has been shown to be questionable. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Accuracy – 1
HAARETZ (Israel) + 2
BALANCE:
16 September 2024: For the newspaper’s careful and remarkably fair coverage of the plight of Palestinians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank since October 7 2023. Particularly the coverage of columnist Deiaa Haj Yahia on the plight of Arab Israelis. WM
16 September: For the newspapers courageously balanced reporting on current affairs in Israel. Particularly the columnist Mordechai Gilat for his coverage of the public mood in Israel. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Balance + 2
JEWISH CHRONICLE (UK) – 1
ACCURACY:
15 September 2024: Jewish Chronicle columnists, David Baddiel, Jonathan Freedland, David Aaronovitch and Hadley Freeman, announced they had resigned in protest over allegations it printed articles about the Gaza conflict that were based on “wild fabrications” by freelance journalist Elon Perry. An apology was subsequently printed by the paper. However the Jewish Chronicle is even being called out in Israel for its complete lack of integrity. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Accuracy – 1
Meta formerly Facebook (USA) – 1
PRESS FREEDOM:
16 September 2024: Facebook owner Meta said it was banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian state media networks, alleging the outlets used deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations while evading detection on the social media company’s platforms. The decision comes after the U.S. accused the Kremlin of running a multifaceted disinformation campaign to boost former President Donald Trump and disparage Harris. That alleged effort included the Russian state media outlet, RT, covertly funding popular right-wing influencers. Sanctions such as advertising bans could have continued to be used by Meta without infringing press freedom. Also see corresponding entry for RT. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Press freedom – 1
PALESTINE TV (Palestine) – 1
INCITEMENT:
4 September 2024: Lebanese Journalist Kamal Zebian on Palestine TV: The Zionists exploited the ‘Lie Of The Holocaust’ in order to guilt the Germans and Europeans into facilitating their plans. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Incitement – 1
RT formerly Russia Today (Russia) – 1
TRANSPARENCY:
16 September 2024: Facebook owner Meta said it was banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian state media networks, alleging the outlets used deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations while evading detection on the social media company’s platforms. Also see corresponding entry for Meta. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Transparency – 1
THE SPECTATOR (UK) + 1
PRESS FREEDOM:
10 September 2024: The Spectator magazine in London, a publication that has so valued its independence that it has made an issue of standing up for its editorial freedom, has survived a takeover battle in such a way as to continue to retain the editorial independence for which it is renowned. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Press freedom + 1
THE WASHINGTON POST (USA) + 1
BALANCE:
16 September 2024: Washington Post columnist, Ishaan Tharoor, for consistently balanced articles about the Gaza conflict since October 7 2023. And for the high standards being maintained by the paper. WM
BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORE FOR THIS MEDIA OUTLET:
Balance + 1
Image above by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
