Home
← Back to Home

How Accurate Is The Sydney Morning Herald? Bias Score, Reliability, and Source Quality

3 min read
Last Updated: January 2026

The Sydney Morning Herald Overview and Political Bias

Observers often characterize The Sydney Morning Herald as maintaining a center-left or liberal-progressive editorial stance. Critics sometimes suggest the publication reflects the interests of an urban, educated elite. Some media analysts argue its coverage has shifted toward a more corporate-friendly centrist position following its merger with Nine Entertainment.

Standpoint Assessment
Overall political leaning Center Left
Estimated number of readers 7,500,000
Israel support Moderate / Balanced
Use of loaded / emotional language Low
Target Audience Elite / Mass market

The Sydney Morning Herald History

Founded in 1831 by Ward Stephens, Frederick Stokes, and William McGarvie, The Sydney Morning Herald is Australia’s oldest continuously published newspaper. It transitioned to a daily format in 1840. For over a century, it was the flagship publication of Fairfax Media before the company's major acquisition in 2018.

World News Map

News Today interactive world news map

Who owns The Sydney Morning Herald?

The publication is owned by Nine Entertainment Co., following its 2018 merger with Fairfax Media. Nine is a major ASX-listed media conglomerate. Funding is primarily derived from a mix of digital and print subscriptions, advertising revenue, and commercial partnerships, including significant integration with the real estate platform Domain.

Similar newspapers