- Lean
- Center (AllSides)
- Reliability
- High factual reporting (MBFC)
- Founded
- 1953
- Headquarters
- Bonn
- Owner
- Deutsche Welle, funded by the German federal budget
- Funding
- Deutsche Welle is Germany's international broadcaster.
On this page
How Reliable Is DW News?
Media Bias/Fact Check rates DW's factual reporting High. In 2022 DW dismissed several staff members of its Arabic service after an external review, led by former German justice minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, found antisemitic posts and statements; the review found no structural antisemitism in the service.
AllSides rates DW Center but publishes no Bias Meter number for it, and Media Bias/Fact Check rates it Left-Center (-2.5), just outside its Least Biased range. Ad Fontes Media has not rated it. Averaged, DW sits inside our center zone.
DW News Bias Rating From Independent Raters
All bars use one shared scale: the shaded band is each rater's own center zone, lined up. A hollow dot means the rater publishes a category but no number, so we use the middle of that category. How we combine the raters. Not every rater has rated DW News.
| Rater | Bias rating | Factual / reliability |
|---|---|---|
| AllSides | Center | Not rated (lean only) |
| Ad Fontes Media | ||
| Media Bias/Fact Check | Left-Center (-2.5) | High, High Credibility |
Who Funds DW News?
Deutsche Welle is Germany's international broadcaster. It is funded from the German federal budget (415 million euros in 2026) rather than the broadcasting fee, and the Deutsche Welle Act guarantees its editorial independence.
Why DW News Is in Aplomb
DW brings a European view of world news, with reporters in Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as Germany. It passes our six source criteria and appears in Latest. What to watch for: it is funded by the German state, so pair it with outlets funded differently, such as Reuters or AP.
Looking for other apps that take bias seriously? See our comparison of the best unbiased news apps.
Watch DW News next to Reuters, BBC and AP, one swipe at a time.
Latest DW News Videos
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DW News FAQ
Is DW biased?
AllSides rates DW Center and Media Bias/Fact Check rates it Left-Center with High factual reporting. Ad Fontes Media has not rated it.
Is DW state media?
DW is funded from the German federal budget, not the broadcasting fee, but the Deutsche Welle Act guarantees its editorial independence and its governing bodies include members from outside government.
Is DW reliable?
Yes. Media Bias/Fact Check rates its factual reporting High.
What languages does DW publish in?
About 30, including English, German, Spanish, Arabic and several Asian and African languages. Aplomb shows DW's English reports.
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