Is 15min Objective? Media Bias, Political Leaning, and Reliability
15min Overview and Political Bias
15min is often described as maintaining a liberal, pro-Western editorial stance. Critics sometimes allege the portal exhibits a center-right bias in domestic politics. While praised for its investigative journalism, some observers have raised concerns regarding potential corporate influence following various ownership shifts, though the outlet asserts strict editorial independence.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center |
| Estimated number of readers | 1,300,000 |
| Israel support | Generally aligns with EU and Lithuanian foreign policy, often leaning toward supportive coverage of Israel's security while reporting on humanitarian issues in Gaza. |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Mass market |
15min History
Launched in 2005 as a free daily newspaper in Lithuania, 15min transitioned into a digital-first news portal as print media declined. It was formerly part of the Norwegian Schibsted group and the Estonian Postimees Group. In 2021, it underwent a significant merger with Media bitės and the news agency BNS.
World News Map
Who owns 15min?
The portal is owned by the holding company 4 Bees, created through the merger of 15min and Media bitės. Major shareholders include Tomas Balžekas, Martynas Basokas, and others. Funding is primarily generated through digital advertising, the '15min MAX' subscription model, and business information services provided via the BNS agency.