https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-highwire/
The Highwire - Conspiracy - F**e News - Alt Health - Not CredibleThe Highwire - P***********e - F**e News - Alt Health - Not Credible
Factual Reporting: Low - Not Credible - Not Reliable - F**e News - Bias
CONSPIRACY-P***********E
Sources in the Conspiracy-P***********e category may publish unverifiable information that is not always supported by evidence. These sources may be untrustworthy for credible/verifiable information; therefore, fact-checking and further investigation is recommended on a per article basis when obtaining information from these sources. See all Conspiracy-P***********e sources.
Overall, we rate The Highwire a Strong Conspiracy and a Quackery level P***********e site based on the routine promotion of unproven claims. We also rate them Low for factual reporting due to promoting propaganda not aligned with the consensus of science and several failed fact checks.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: CONSPIRACY-P***********E
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA (44/180 Press Freedom)
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 2004 by Del Matthew Bigtree, The Highwire is the website for his internet radio program. The website publishes alternative health and medical news that frequently promotes p***********e and conspiracy theories.
Del Bigtree is an American television and film producer, and CEO of the anti-v******tion group Informed Consent Action Network, who produced the film V****d: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe based on the discredited views of Andrew Wakefield on an alleged connection between v*****es and autism.
The website does not have an about page; however, Mr. Bigtree describes himself as follows: “Del Bigtree is one of the preeminent voices of the V*****e Risk Awareness Movement. His career as an Emmy-winning producer of the CBS talk show The Doctors changed abruptly when he produced the documentary V****D, which is credited with igniting a revolution against Pharmaceutical Tyranny around the world.”
Read our country media profile of the USA.
Funded by / Ownership
The Highwire does not openly disclose ownership, however, it is presumed to be owned by Del Bigtree and funded through the Informed Consent Action Network via donations.
Analysis / Bias
In review, the primary purpose of this website is to promote anti-v******tion propaganda and health misinformation. Besides Bigtree, the website also publishes articles by Jefferey Jaxen whose writing has been featured in discredited sources such as RT, Natural News, InfoWars, Collective-Evolution, Waking Times, Om Times, and countless others.”
Recently, The Highwire has been covering the C****-** p******c with articles that utilize strongly loaded wording such as this BREAKING: REMDESIVIR STUDY “A SHAM.” This article links directly to a video segment of The Highwire radio program. The Highwire routinely downplays the C****av***s and has published debunked information regarding death totals such as this: SHOULD WE TRUST THE C****-** CASE COUNT?. This story promotes the conspiracy that Doctors and hospitals are recording more C****a deaths to receive more money. While it is true that the use of ventilators costs more and that Medicare reimburses 20% more, however, the claim suggests that the number of C****-** cases is being padded is not proven; but rather, evidence indicates the cases are being undercounted.
As mentioned above, the primary purpose of this website is to promote anti-v******tion propaganda. The Highwire frequently promotes the debunked claim that v*****es cause autism such as this: Denialists & Gatekeepers: While CDC Ignores Autism Crisis, Experts Busy ‘Debunking’ Alternative Therapies. Further, they also promote cures for autism, which have zero scientific evidence to support the claim such as this: Autism ‘could one day be treated with a probiotic pill.’ Currently, there isn’t a known cure for Autism and this headline is grossly misleading as probiotics cannot cure autism, however, it has been shown to improve gastrointestinal health in those with autism.
Finally, the website also promotes anti-GMO propaganda and conspiracy theories related to how big tech is suppressing alternative medicine Is Big Tech K*****g American Health?.
Failed Fact Checks
“There are no studies that prove v*****es don’t cause autism” – Inaccurate
“Toxic v*****e ingredients in the MMR v*****e cause encephalopathy” – Inaccurate
“2019 novel c****av***s contains “pShuttle-SN” sequence proving laboratory origin” – Inaccurate
C****-** mass v******tion will select for more virulent variants of the v***s that causes C****-**, which will escape v*****e-induced immunity and cause more severe disease – Misleading
Natural immunity is far superior to C****-** v*****es – Misleading
Overall, we rate The Highwire a Strong Conspiracy and a Quackery level P***********e site based on the routine promotion of unproven claims. We also rate them Low for factual reporting due to promoting propaganda not aligned with the consensus of science and several failed fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 5/9/2020) Updated (8/10/2021)
Source:
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