Bloomberg News is a strong choice for those seeking in-depth business and financial news with a global perspective, despite its higher subscription cost and lean-left bias. The Washington Post is a better option for readers interested in broader coverage, including political and local news, with a focus on investigative journalism and a more affordable subscription, though its recent editorial shift has faced criticism.
| Attribute | Bloomberg News | The Washington Post |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial Stance | Lean Left | Recently shifted to focus on defending "personal liberties" and "free markets," sparking backlash. |
| Depth of Business and Financial News Coverage | Delivers in-depth journalism and data graphics covering the business world; newsroom delivers over 5,000 stories a day; Bloomberg Terminal is a resource for CEOs | Offers in-depth coverage of financial themes impacting Americans. Launched "Econ 101: Navigating the Economy," a series using animations. |
| International Coverage | Over 120 global news bureaus; over 2,700 journalists and analysts in more than 120 countries; follows financial markets globally; Bloomberg Politics covers political events in the Americas, United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East | Operates as a 24-hour newsroom with hubs in Seoul and London. Correspondents in 26 locations outside the U.S. Foreign bureaus in Baghdad, Beijing, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Cairo, Dakar, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Istanbul, Jerusalem, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Nairobi, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, and Toronto. |
| Political Reporting Quality and Objectivity | Political bias evident in story selection and headlines, with a slight lean to the left; faced criticism for not covering Michael Bloomberg or his Democratic rivals during the primaries; some sources describe reputation as solid and centrist to center-right | Known for its political reporting. Objectivity is a debated topic. Emphasizes fairness, open-mindedness, rigor, and independence in reporting. |
| Investigative Journalism Reputation | Has an investigations team; won a George Polk Award for International Reporting for a 2012 series on China's political elite; Brian Bremner's Businessweek cover story on Japan's mafia is an example; some sources suggest that deep-dive investigations aren't Bloomberg's strength | Well-regarded for investigative journalism. Famous for Watergate scandal reporting. Other examples include exposing sexual misconduct in Congress (1992) and Murrey Marder's investigation of Senator McCarthy's false accusations (1953). |
| Technology News Coverage | Dedicated Bloomberg Technology section; covers AI, transportation, big data, and startups; Bloomberg Television is expanding its technology coverage with new programs focused on Asia and Europe | Cristiano Lima-Strong was a tech policy reporter. Has a newsletter focused on tech policy. Partnerships with Virginia Tech to develop AI-powered tools. |
| Website User Experience | Not available | Focuses on providing a great reading experience on mobile devices. Utilizes Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) to improve load times. AMP has led to an 88% improvement in load time for mobile content. |
| Subscription Cost | All Access digital package starts at $34.99 a month or $415 annually; three-month introductory rate of $9.99 per month, or a one-year offer at $340; full-priced Bloomberg subscription costs $299/year and includes digital access to Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg TV, and other subscriber-only content. Adding a Businessweek print subscription costs an additional $30 | $100 a year (digital subscription), promotional deals available (e.g., $12.87 for a year), academic rates available |
| Fact-Checking Accuracy and Standards | Outlined steps to ensure accuracy in reporting; reporters are encouraged to be transparent; has a Standards team to ensure editorial independence; instances where AI-generated content has led to inaccuracies, requiring corrections | Has a fact-checking project that began in 2007. Uses a "reasonable man" standard for evaluating claims. Employs a rating system based on Pinocchio, assigning up to four Pinocchios to false claims. |
| Diversity and Inclusion in Reporting | Committed to diversity and inclusion; emphasizes the importance of including diverse voices on all platforms; has Bloomberg Equality to cover issues of race, gender, diversity, and fairness; changing its inclusion efforts to be inclusive of everybody as opposed to being specifically built for particular underrepresented groups | Diversity and inclusion are important goals. The Washington Post Guild has made recommendations for improvements. Has taken steps to "build a stronger culture of diversity and equity". Assigned senior leaders to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. |
| Community Engagement and Local News Coverage | Covers challenges and solutions found in cities; no further information on specific local news coverage was found | Emphasizes national and political news but also covers regional and local stories. |
| Multimedia Content | Offers videos, podcasts, and live streaming of Bloomberg Television; original content is available on Bloomberg Digital, iTunes, GooglePlay, and Spotify; Bloomberg Radio is a 24/7 global business radio station; Bloomberg Quicktake offers cinematic, data-led shows | Offers videos, podcasts, and interactive graphics. Launched the DC Going Out Guide app for finding local restaurants, events, and more. Experiments with AMP Stories for a more visual experience. |