Outlet comparison
CNN vs. NBC News
Last updated
CNN is rated Lean Left (Digital) by AllSides and Left-Center with mostly factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. NBC News is rated Left-Center with high factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check.
In 8 stories both covered and CadNews analyzed over the last 30 days, CNN and NBC News framed the story from the same side 7 times and from different sides 1 times.
Side by side
| Measure | CNN | NBC News |
|---|---|---|
| AllSides | Lean Left (Digital) | — |
| Media Bias/Fact Check | Left-Center · Mostly Factual | Left-Center · High factual reporting |
| Ownership | Warner Bros. Discovery | Versant / Comcast (NBCUniversal) |
| Founded | 1980 | 1940 |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, GA | New York, NY |
| Type | Cable news network | Broadcast network news outlet |
| Stories covered (30 days) | 287 | 1112 |
| Neutral framing | 46% of 35 | 38% of 276 |
| Loaded phrases per story | 0.57 | 1.13 |
| Top topic | Top Stories | Politics |
Ratings come from AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check. Coverage figures are CadNews measurements of each outlet's feed; framing shows only once at least 10 of an outlet's articles were analyzed.
Same story, two headlines
Recent stories both outlets covered, with each one's headline and, where CadNews analyzed the story, how it framed it.
- 1 dead, 6 injured in shooting at California Halloween store, police sayCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter-left framing“Pregnant woman killed, 6 others wounded in targeted shooting at California Spirit Halloween store, police say | CNN”
Focuses on the personal account of a witness whose wife escaped the store and highlights the victim's pregnancy.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“Manhunt launched after California Spirit Halloween shooting leaves 1 dead, 6 injured”Frames the story around a 'manhunt' and links it to a separate shooting in Michigan.
- Study estimates 75% of NFL players who died over 15-year span may have had CTECompare every outlet's coverage →CNNNeutral“New study suggests 3 in 4 former NFL players who died from 2008 to 2023 had CTE | CNN”
Connects the findings to broader contexts like military trauma and domestic violence while noting past study limitations.
NBC NewsNeutral“Study estimates 75% of NFL players who died over 15-year span had CTE”Provides scientific nuance by distinguishing between biological signs of CTE and clinical dementia symptoms.
- California must respond to DOJ's emergency request over ballots mailed to alleged noncitizens, court rulesCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNLeft framing“Justice Department orders California counties to set aside ballots from suspected noncitizens”
Labels claims of fraud as baseless and highlights the potential criminal threats against officials.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“DOJ demands that California counties help identify noncitizen voters”Provides specific figures from county-level letters while framing the move as a priority of the Trump administration.
- At least one dead and four injured in Paris suburb shootingCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter-left framing“France investigates suspected Islamophobic shooting of girl near Paris as terrorism | CNN”
Specifically highlights 'Islamophobia' in the headline as the primary suspected motive.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“One person killed and 4 injured in suspected Islamophobic shooting near Paris”Focuses heavily on Macron's labeling of the attack and the religious/racial targeting aspect.
- Israel closes West Bank city after at least five Israelis wounded in shooting attackCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter framing“Netanyahu orders closure of West Bank after five Israelis wounded in shooting attack | CNN”
Focuses primarily on the visual evidence and the immediate exchange of gunfire.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“Israel orders ‘full lockdown’ of West Bank after military kills 2 accused of attack”Contextualizes the event through settler violence and the political high stakes for Netanyahu.
- Ramaswamy's attack ad is "absolutely despicable," Rep. Dingell saysCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter-left framing“Ohio governor’s race roiled by new viral video featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother”
Neutral reporting on the ad buy and the viral nature of the content while noting the controversy.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“Ramaswamy ad featuring opponent's estranged mother draws backlash”Highlights the backlash and the controversial nature of using an estranged parent.
- Attack Ad Featuring Candidate’s Estranged Mother Sparks OutrageCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter-left framing“Ohio governor’s race roiled by new viral video featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother”
Focuses on the viral nature and the controversy roiling the race.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“Attack Ad Featuring Candidate’s Estranged Mother Sparks Outrage”Brief broadcast summary focusing on the 'outrage' sparked by the advertisement.
- Detained American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia as Witkoff meets PutinCompare every outlet's coverage →CNNCenter-left framing“Russia frees 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard it captured in occupied Ukraine | CNN”
Focuses on the context of occupied Ukraine and the timing of Trump's diplomatic efforts.
NBC NewsCenter-left framing“Russia frees retired American teacher as Trump envoy meets with Putin”Links the release to U.S. pressure on Ukraine and includes the 'humanitarian' quote.
Covered by CNN, not NBC News
Big stories (5+ outlets) in the last 30 days.
Covered by NBC News, not CNN
Big stories (5+ outlets) in the last 30 days.
Is CNN or NBC News more biased?
CNN is rated Lean Left (Digital) by AllSides and Left-Center with mostly factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. NBC News is rated Left-Center with high factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. CadNews doesn't rank outlets; these are independent raters' labels, and the stories below show how each outlet framed the same events.
Is CNN or NBC News more reliable?
CNN: mostly factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. NBC News: high factual reporting by Media Bias/Fact Check. Factual ratings describe an outlet's track record, not any single article.
How often do CNN and NBC News cover the same stories?
Over the last 30 days, CadNews found 44 stories that both CNN and NBC News covered. In 8 stories both covered and CadNews analyzed over the last 30 days, CNN and NBC News framed the story from the same side 7 times and from different sides 1 times.
What does CadNews's own analysis show?
In CadNews's analysis of 35 stories over the last 30 days, CNN's framing leaned left of center in 17, and was neutral in 16. In CadNews's analysis of 276 stories over the last 30 days, NBC News's framing leaned left of center in 74, and was neutral in 105.
Who owns CNN and NBC News?
CNN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. NBC News is owned by Versant / Comcast (NBCUniversal).
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