What is The Daily Wire? Founded in 2015 by Ben Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing, The Daily Wire is a major player in American conservative media. With its headquarters now in Nashville, Tennessee, this media company offers a mix of news, opinion, and entertainment content. Known for its right-leaning bias, The Daily Wire produces popular shows like The Ben Shapiro Show and The Matt Walsh Show. It also ventures into film and TV production, aiming to counter leftist narratives. Despite facing criticism for spreading misinformation and climate change denial, The Daily Wire remains influential, especially on social media platforms like Facebook.
Key Takeaways:
- The Daily Wire, a conservative media outlet, was founded in 2015 and has since moved its headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee. It is known for its right-leaning bias and popular podcasts.
- The Daily Wire has faced criticism for spreading misinformation and has taken legal action against government policies, such as COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which were eventually declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.
Founding and History
The Daily Wire has become a significant player in conservative media. Let's explore its origins and evolution.
- The Daily Wire was founded in 2015 by Ben Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing. Both had previously worked for TruthRevolt.
- The site received several million dollars in seed funding from billionaire brothers Dan and Farris Wilks.
- Initially, The Daily Wire was headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
- In September 2020, Shapiro announced the headquarters would move to Nashville, Tennessee.
Ownership and Funding
Understanding who owns and funds The Daily Wire can provide insight into its operations and potential biases.
- The Daily Wire is owned by Bentkey Ventures, LLC, managed by Farris Wilks.
- The company's funding does not influence its bias ratings, which are based on content and reporting practices.
Media Bias Rating
The Daily Wire's content has been analyzed for bias, revealing its alignment with conservative viewpoints.
- The Daily Wire has a Right rating from AllSides Media Bias Rating.
- This rating is based on a May 2022 Blind Bias Survey with 854 participants.
- The survey's weighted average response was 4.95, placing it firmly in the Right category.
Content and Shows
The Daily Wire offers a variety of content, from news articles to daily shows and documentaries.
- Popular shows include The Ben Shapiro Show, The Andrew Klavan Show, and The Matt Walsh Show.
- The site also features content from PragerU and Jordan Peterson.
- The Daily Wire has produced movies and documentaries, such as "What is a Woman?" by Matt Walsh.
- Candace Owens' documentary "The Greatest Lie Ever Sold" is another notable production.
Editorial Leadership
Leadership changes can impact the direction and tone of a media outlet.
- Ben Shapiro was the editor-in-chief from its founding until June 2020.
- Shapiro then became editor emeritus, with John Bickley taking over as editor-in-chief.
TV and Film Studio
The Daily Wire has ventured into the entertainment industry with its own studio.
- In January 2021, Shapiro announced the creation of a studio for TV and films.
- The studio's first original movie, "Shut In," premiered in 2022.
COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
The Daily Wire has taken a strong stance on certain political issues, including vaccine mandates.
- In September 2021, Shapiro and Boreing announced they would defy President Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
- The company filed a lawsuit against the mandate, which reached the Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court declared the mandates unlawful with a 6-3 ruling.
Reception and Criticism
The Daily Wire has faced both praise and criticism for its content and reporting practices.
- Fact checkers have noted some stories shared by The Daily Wire are unverified.
- Snopes reported instances of stories taken out of context or not verified.
- Examples include incorrect reports on baby names in the Netherlands and exaggerated stories about Confederate graves.
Climate Change Denial
The Daily Wire has been criticized for its stance on climate change.
- The site has been accused of making false or misleading claims about climate change.
- In 2017, scientists described several articles as inaccurate or lacking evidence.
- The Daily Wire published corrections, but the updated articles were still considered misleading.
Facebook Engagement
The Daily Wire has a significant presence on social media, particularly Facebook.
- In 2018, NewsWhip identified The Daily Wire as the top right-wing publisher on Facebook.
- The site was the sixth-leading English-language publisher on Facebook in early 2019.
- In 2021, The Daily Wire's stories received more likes, shares, and comments than any other news publisher.
Podcast Success
The Daily Wire's podcasts have gained substantial popularity.
- In April 2019, Podtrac ranked The Ben Shapiro Show as the second most listened-to podcast in the U.S. for March 2019.
Backstage Show
The Backstage show offers a unique format for discussing various topics.
- The show features unscripted, unfiltered conversations with The Daily Wire's talent.
- Topics include politics, philosophy, and more, providing a long-form discussion format.
Factual Reporting
While The Daily Wire is generally considered factual, its bias is evident in its coverage choices.
- The site acknowledges its conservative perspective and reports accordingly.
- This selective coverage can lead to a lack of balanced reporting on certain issues.
Community Feedback
Community feedback can trigger deeper reviews of The Daily Wire's bias rating.
- As of September 2024, people have voted on the AllSides Media Bias Rating for The Daily Wire.
- Those who disagree with the rating often think the source has a Lean Right bias.
Confidence Level
AllSides has high confidence in its Right rating for The Daily Wire.
- Two or more bias reviews have affirmed this rating.
- The source is transparent about its bias.
Additional Information
The Daily Wire has been involved in various controversies.
- In 2021, an article inaccurately stated that California Gov. Gavin Newsom had implemented additional COVID-19 restrictions.
- In reality, Newsom had eased restrictions a month earlier.
Ownership Structure
The ownership structure of The Daily Wire is clear and does not influence its bias ratings.
- The Daily Wire is owned by Bentkey Ventures, LLC, managed by Farris Wilks.
Funding Sources
The Daily Wire's funding comes from advertisements and other revenue streams.
- Funding does not influence its bias ratings, which focus solely on content and reporting practices.
Editorial Philosophy
The Daily Wire openly acknowledges its opinionated approach to reporting.
- The site aims to provide a clear conservative perspective.
Content Variety
The Daily Wire produces a range of content, including movies and documentaries.
- These productions aim to promote conservative values and challenge prevailing narratives.
Social Media Presence
The Daily Wire has a strong presence on social media platforms.
- It was identified as the top right-wing publisher on Facebook in 2018.
- The site continued to engage users with high levels of likes, shares, and comments in 2021.
Podcast Success
The Ben Shapiro Show is one of the most popular podcasts on The Daily Wire.
- It ranked second in the U.S. in March 2019 according to Podtrac.
Backstage Show Format
The Backstage show features unscripted conversations with The Daily Wire's talent.
- The show aims to provide a unique experience for its audience, focusing on long-form discussions and varied topics.
Controversies and Criticisms
The Daily Wire has faced criticisms for spreading misinformation.
- Fact checkers have noted instances of unverified stories and misstated facts to advance a partisan view.
Legal Actions
The Daily Wire has taken legal actions against government policies it opposes.
- In 2021, the company filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government over COVID-19 vaccine mandates, which were eventually declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.
The Daily Wire's Impact
The Daily Wire has carved out a significant spot in conservative media since its 2015 launch. Founded by Ben Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing, it quickly became a go-to for right-leaning news and commentary. With shows like The Ben Shapiro Show and The Matt Walsh Show, it offers a mix of news, opinion, and entertainment.
Despite facing criticism for spreading misinformation and engaging in climate change denial, it remains influential. Its high engagement on platforms like Facebook and the success of its podcasts show its reach. The Daily Wire's move into film and TV production, along with its legal actions against COVID-19 mandates, highlights its broader ambitions.
While its bias is clear, The Daily Wire's commitment to its conservative perspective ensures it will continue to be a major player in the media landscape.
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