Politically biased

This false narrative suggests that journalists report in a way that aligns with specific political ideologies rather than adhering to professional journalistic standards. They are often labeled as supporters of extremist positions, whether left or right, and their work is falsely portrayed as ideologically driven rather than fact-based. Additionally, these accusations are frequently accompanied by attempts to discredit the journalists personally, suggesting that they are part of broader conspiracies or are working in the interest of foreign or elite powers. This discrediting is further intensified by misogynistic and anti-Semitic attacks, especially against female journalists, and through the use of social media platforms like Telegram to spread these narratives widely.

This narrative has been adopted by disinformation purveyors and adapted to the specific context of each country:

Narratives: Faktograf is accused of being ideologically and politically biased, with populists and conspiracy groups claiming that the organization represents extreme left-wing political ideas. The narrative suggests that Faktograf selectively fact-checks information that does not fit its alleged agenda, “ignoring” inaccuracies from sources that align with its alleged left-wing stance. This portrayal seeks to discredit Faktograf’s work by framing it as politically motivated rather than objective.

Narrative: Purveyors of disinformation argue that Maldita’s fact-checking efforts are not neutral but are instead part of a broader “liberal” agenda. The narrative suggests that Maldita’s work is influenced by its sources of funding, such as the Open Society Foundation, implying that the organization selectively reports and fact-checks information to support liberal causes.

Narrative: Franziska Tschinderle was repeatedly labeled as a liberal or left-wing journalist by Orban’s pro-government media. The narrative suggests that her reporting is biased because of her political views, portraying her as an activist rather than a journalist, implying that her work is intended to discredit right-wing parties like Fidesz by framing them negatively.

Narrative: Alexander Roth is accused by right-wing extremists and anti-vaccine groups of having a left-wing bias. These groups claim that Roth’s reporting is politically motivated, suggesting that he deliberately misrepresents right-wing movements and anti-vaccine sentiments to align with a leftist agenda. Roth is often labeled as a fraud or a “professional liar,” with the implication that his work is more about political activism than impartial journalism.