Is CalMatters biased?
Last updated
Verdict: CalMatters is rated center with high factual reporting by independent monitors. In CadNews’s last 30 days it covered 7 stories; 1 of 7 were also covered by the other side.
CalMatters is rated center by independent monitors.
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom reporting on California.
Visit calmatters.orgRatings reflect the general consensus of media monitors and CadNews’s own coverage data; they’re starting points, not verdicts.
How CalMatters covered the news this month
Not enough data yet: 1 story analyzed so far. Updated every 30 minutes.
Methodology: we count the stories in our archive from the last 30 days that include CalMatters (opinion pieces excluded). For each analyzed story, the AI classifies how each outlet's article is framed, based on emphasis, word choice and what it includes or omits, and flags loaded phrases. These are automated estimates, not verdicts. How CadNews works
Ownership and funding
- Owner
- CalMatters (independent nonprofit, governed by a board of directors)
- Type
- Nonprofit newsroom
- Funding
- Foundations, major donors, sponsors and members.
How other raters rate CalMatters
| Rater | Rating |
|---|---|
| AllSides | Center |
| Media Bias/Fact Check | Left-Center · High factual reporting |
CadNews’s own coverage numbers come from its saved coverage data, separate from these external ratings.
Recent coverage compared
Focuses on the statistical rarity of fraud and quotes both federal and state officials extensively.
Compare with: Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, The Guardian — see the story
Blind spots
Big stories from the last 30 days, covered by outlets on both sides, that CalMatters didn't cover in its feeds.
- Katie Zacharia shares Instagram post praising Trump after being fired as White House press secretary16 outlets
- Elon Musk says he'll give every child in America a share in SpaceX14 outlets
- Trump Says DC Golf Course Project Moving Forward Despite Lawsuit13 outlets
- Trump endorses Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s elections: ‘Will never let you down’13 outlets
- Air Force: Service member died from fall before Navy-UTSA game13 outlets
Political lean
Center
Factual reliability
High factual reporting
Founded
2015
Headquarters
Sacramento, CA
Type
Nonprofit newsroom
Ownership
CalMatters (independent nonprofit, governed by a board of directors)
Strengths
- ·Original nonprofit journalism.
Things to keep in mind
- ·Individual monitors may disagree on political lean; see their ratings below.
Is CalMatters left or right?
CadNews rates CalMatters as center. This rating reflects the consensus of independent media monitors (AllSides, Ad Fontes Media, Media Bias/Fact Check) and how its framing compares with other outlets in our story analyses.
Is CalMatters credible?
CalMatters has high factual reporting factual reliability. Original nonprofit journalism.
What is CalMatters?
CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom reporting on California. Founded in 2015. Owned by CalMatters (independent nonprofit, governed by a board of directors). Based in Sacramento, CA. Format: Nonprofit newsroom.
What does CalMatters cover most?
Of the 7 CalMatters stories in CadNews's archive over the last 30 days, the most common topics were Politics (100%).
Does CalMatters cover the same stories as the other side?
1 of 7 CalMatters stories in our archive over the last 30 days were also covered by outlets on the other side of the political spectrum. Stories it covered alone, and big stories it skipped, are listed on this page.
Read across the spectrum
Any single outlet has a perspective. To get the full picture on a story, compare how sources on the left, center, and right cover it side by side.
Outlets on the other side
To balance CalMatters's center perspective, compare its coverage with these outlets.
NPR
Center-leftnpr.org
NPR is a privately and publicly funded non-profit that distributes news and cultural programming to local member stations. Its hard news desk is widely cited; its features and culture coverage typically reflect a center-left lens.
The New York Times
Center-leftnytimes.com
The Times is the largest US national newspaper by subscriptions. Its news desk is rigorous and well-sourced; its opinion section is editorially separate and runs a wide range of voices skewed toward the center-left.
The Washington Post
Center-leftwashingtonpost.com
The Post is a national paper with strong political and national-security coverage based in DC. Its reporting standards are well-regarded; opinion content runs left-of-center with a few conservative columnists.
Other center outlets
Associated Press
Centerapnews.com
The Associated Press is a not-for-profit cooperative owned by its member newspapers and broadcasters. Its core output is wire copy used by thousands of outlets worldwide, which pushes its reporting toward terse, sourced, and largely descriptive language.
Reuters
Centerreuters.com
Reuters is the news arm of Thomson Reuters, with a heavy emphasis on financial markets, geopolitics, and breaking news. Its Trust Principles formally require integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.
BBC News
Centerbbc.com
BBC News is the news division of the British Broadcasting Corporation, funded by the UK television license fee. Its editorial guidelines emphasize impartiality, and an independent regulator oversees compliance.