Is Delfi Reliable? Full Review of Bias, Ownership, and Credibility
Delfi Overview and Political Bias
Critics often characterize Delfi as prone to sensationalism and clickbait to drive traffic. Some observers suggest the portal maintains a strong pro-Western and pro-EU editorial stance, which detractors claim limits perspectives on regional geopolitics. Additionally, its moderation of controversial user comment sections has frequently drawn public scrutiny and legal debate.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center |
| Estimated number of readers | 4,500,000 |
| Israel support | Generally follows official Baltic foreign policy (broadly supportive of Israel's security while supporting a two-state solution) |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Mass market |
Delfi History
Launched in 1999 by the Estonian IT firm MicroLink, Delfi quickly became the primary news source in Estonia and Latvia, later expanding to Lithuania and briefly Ukraine. It pioneered the digital-first news model in the Baltics. Since 2007, it has operated under the Ekspress Grupp media conglomerate's management.
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Who owns Delfi?
Delfi is owned by AS Ekspress Grupp, a prominent media company in the Baltic region listed on the Nasdaq Tallinn stock exchange. The company's largest shareholder is Estonian businessman Hans H. Luik. Its revenue is primarily generated through digital advertising, private subscriptions via Delfi Plus, and corporate partnerships.