GUIDE: Top news sites for thinking Americans who want to exit the echo chamber7 min read

To be intelligent contributors to our society, we muse select  reputable news sources inside and OUTSIDE of our normal biases. Not only does this make us more evenly informed, it will enable us to understand others and reduce unnecessary conflict with them and within ourselves.  Here are some sources I recommend as trustworthy.

I have included Facebook links – the easiest way to keep up with these is to like their page so that you see their stuff in your feed. I have “liked” most of these. And don’t forget to value your friends who are on the other side of the fence. Don’t unfriend them, they may be your best contact point for other opinions!

I have also identified one from each category which I think is a good general representative (*).

Updated: 10.10.2024
Changes: Moved Atlantic Magazine from centrist to liberal. They’ve jumped the shark.

1. Conservative News Outlets

These are the most reputable conservative outlets I could find. I like them.

• American Enterprise Institute | AEI – this think tank’s stated purpose is “to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism, limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, political accountability, and open debate”. (AEI on Facebook)
• The Daily Caller – Libertarian, bills itself as the Conservative Huffington Post (I think that’s a good comparison). Good reading. (Daily Caller on Facebook)
• Fox News – Fox News has a terrible reputation, not because its news arm is biased, but because its commentary shows are so right wing. Whether or not you like them, they are watched by millions, and not just conservatives. (FoxNews on Facebook) ¹
• Human Events – another site that gathers conservative voices across the spectrum. Nicely done. (Human Events on Facebook)
• National Review  – the premier conservative magazine founded in 1955 by William F. Buckley, still a great source. (NR on Facebook)
• Townhall – formerly part of The Heritage Foundation, the website features more than 80 columns (both syndicated and exclusive) by a variety of writers and commentators, who often appear as guest commentators on C-SPAN, MSNBC, CNN, and the Fox News Channel. (Townhall on Facebook)
• Wall Street Journal Opinion – the WSJ opinion page is a well known conservative pulpit. (WSJ Opinion on Facebook)
• * The Weekly Standard – If you only follow one conservative news outlet, this thoughtful site should be the one. It has contributors from many of the others I’ve listed here. (Weekly Standard on Facebook)

2. Centrist News Outlets

Many people consider centrist news sites as the most independent and trustworthy. To some extent, I agree. In another sense, we must avoid the fallacy of the argument to moderation. Some of these are accused of being liberal or too conservative, but I find them often balanced and fair. YMMV.²

• * All Sides – This digest actually has three columns, each from one of the three views listed here (Lib, Centrist, Con). This could be your one centrist Facebook like. (AllSides on Facebook)
• CSPAN – Often overlooked for its reputation of being boring (ever watch those House sessions?). But surprisingly informative (CSPAN on Facebook)
• FiveThirtyEight – this statistics-oriented site, though a little left of center sometimes, is a wonderful thinking man’s site. (538 on Facebook)
• National Public Radio – a decade ago, they were very liberal. They’ve worked hard to be more fair, though their liberal bias still shows through pretty often. Still, they are informative and thoughtful, and committed, at least in principle, to fair coverage. (NPR on Facebook)
• The Real News – the header of their website proclaims, “NO GOVERNMENT, CORPORATE OR ADVERTISING” which stands as a marker of self-proclaimed nonpartisanship, political and otherwise. They report on news from all around the world, offering stories ignored by most other major outlets. (Real News on Facebook)
• Reuters News Service – Known for unbiased reporting, there have been some recent controversies over a more liberal climate creating fear in conservative contributors there. We’ll see. (Reuters on Facebook).
• USA Today – Even their opinion page has two essays, one from each side of an opposing issue. Well done and colorful. (USA Today on Facebook)

3. Liberal News Outlets

Admittedly, I know less about these. So you may need to edumacate me if my list is off.

• The American Prospect – founded in part by well known liberal economist Robert Reich in 1990, this has quickly become a voice of the left perspective. (TAP on Facebook)
• The Atlantic Magazine – they used to try to stay true to their motto, “Of no creed or clique.” (Atlantic on Facebook)
• CNN – Although they claim to be fair, their liberal bias was evident in the latest election. Still a great news service, just not centrist, IMO (CNN on Facebook) (CNN Opinion on Facebook)
• * The Nation – It rightly calls itself “the flagship of the left.” It has been operating since 1865, (The Nation on Facebook)
• The New Yorker – although focused on New York, this magazine focuses on culture and has legendary cartoons. (TNY on Facebook)
• New York Times – The Gray Lady has slipped a lot lately, even admitting to doing a bad job on the Trump election, but it’s still a mainstay. (NYT on Facebook)
• Politico Magazine – Politico is both a news service and a magazine. The magazine is more left, in my opinion. (PoliticoMag on Facebook)
• Slate – Owned by the Washington Post and distributed on public radio, it is known for being contrarian and open minded, though still liberal. Think of it as Salon.com’s mature older brother. This is one ‘liberal’ outlet I really enjoy.  (Slate on Facebook)
• Washington Post – The oldest paper in Washington DC, winner of 47 Pulitzer Prizes, it’s a legend. (WaPo on Facebook)

4. Foreign News Outlets

Getting outside opinions is good, especially since we are so culturally and geographically isolated.

• Al Jazeera (Arabic) – Owned by the country of Qatar, this international news organization is an important dissident voice. (Al Jazeera on Facebook)
• Asia Times (Asian) – This Hong Kong based paper is a great source. (Asia Times on Facebook)
• BBC News (British) – I would call them liberal, but many consider them centrist and objective. (BBC News on Facebook)
• The Economist Magazine (British) Liberal by American standards, but widely read and respected by many across the spectrum. I had to put it here. Great long form journalism.  (Economist on Facebook) ³
• The Globe and Mail (Canadian) – One of the two big papers in Canada, this is the liberal one. (GAM on Facebook)
• The National Post (Canadian) – Canada’s other major newspaper, more conservative. (National Post on Facebook)
• RT (Russian) – The other part of Asia, Russian news for english speakers. (RT on Facebook)
• The Week (British) – Centrist for a European magazine. Brief but informative. (The Week on Facebook)