Can You Trust The Online Citizen? Bias Rating, Factual Accuracy, and Reliability
The Online Citizen Overview and Political Bias
The Online Citizen is frequently described as an alternative media outlet with a strong anti-establishment bias. Critics argue it utilizes sensationalist framing and lacks journalistic rigor, while proponents claim it offers essential scrutiny of government policies. Its reports are often characterized as focusing on social justice and human rights issues in Singapore.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Left |
| Estimated number of readers | 350,000 |
| Israel support | Neutral / Not clearly defined |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | High |
| Target Audience | Activist / Partisan |
The Online Citizen History
Founded in 2006 by Andrew Loh and Remy Choo, TOC emerged as a key independent voice in Singapore. It faced several defamation lawsuits and regulatory disputes with the Infocomm Media Development Authority. In 2021, its license was canceled, prompting a relocation to Taiwan where it continues operations.
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Who owns The Online Citizen?
The site is currently owned and managed by Terry Xu. It has historically relied on a mix of volunteer contributions, reader subscriptions, and crowdfunding. Regulators in Singapore previously designated it as a 'political association,' requiring the disclosure of financial backers to ensure no foreign funding influenced local politics.