How we judge independence. A source counts as independent when it is not owned or controlled by a media or business group, a political party, a party-affiliated foundation, or the state — and its funding comes from its own audience, its own advertising, its owner-operator, or arm's-length grants.

Politics, professional background and editorial slant are recorded on each source’s page as context — they never decide the verdict. Open a source to see its owner, its funding and how confident we are.