18 - News App Critique

Hannah Diffee

Professor Reppert

Reporting and Writing for the Mass Media

Fall 2024

18 - News App Critique

Ground News: The News Comparison App

Ground News is a news comparison platform that allows users to easily compare how a story is covered by sources from across the political spectrum. Created "to offer clarity in an increasingly chaotic media landscape," the app combats partisan media by adding bias and factuality ratings to every news story. The platform uses three independent news rating resources--All Sides, Al Fontes Media, and Media Bias Fact Check--to present data. Ground News also provides ownership data for over 2,000 national, local, and international news outlets. 

Every day, the service processes nearly 60,000 articles from over 50,000 news sources, assigning them a rating in one of seven political categories: Far Left, Left, Lean Left, Center, Lean Right, Right, and Extreme Right.

The app's home tab features stories from around the world. Users can edit their preferences to view top news from the United States, Canada, Europe, Oceania, the United Kingdom, and general international stories. Users can even view local news and choose specific topics of interest. These features allow individuals to easily curate their news feeds and see what is most relevant to them.

Above: A screenshot of the Ground News home tab

Above: A tour of the app. Users can scroll through each news story to view full coverage of the issue.

Users wanting a more in-depth experience can purchase an annual Ground News subscription for $29.99. The subscription begins with a one-week free trial, giving users limited access to a quick comparison tool, Blindspots, and the ability to follow more topics and places of interest to meet their news consumption needs.

Ground News is a wonderful tool for those who feel bogged down by the biases of today's media outlets. Download Ground News from the Apple App Store or Google Play to view media through a more critical lens.