Vox appears to offer a more robust and transparent approach to journalism with a focus on in-depth explanatory content and a strong social media presence. BuzzFeed News, while also offering original reporting, has faced issues with accuracy and potential ad clutter. Both lean left, but Vox is more upfront about its progressive perspective.
| Attribute | BuzzFeed News | Vox |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial focus and scope | Covered entertainment, politics, lifestyle, and social issues with a mix of serious journalism and lighthearted content. | Explanatory journalism, covering politics, public policy, world affairs, pop culture, science, business, food, and sports. |
| Political leaning/bias | Generally considered left-center biased, influencing story selection and language. | Left-leaning and liberal, often presenting issues from a progressive perspective. |
| Fact-checking accuracy and standards | Published Editorial Standards and Ethics Guide; rated as 'Mostly Factual' by some sources, but had instances of retractions and questioned accuracy. | Reputation for factual reporting and a transparent fact-checking process, cross-referencing multiple sources. |
| Original reporting vs. aggregation | Primarily focused on original reporting and investigations. | Publishes original news and commentary. |
| Depth of investigative journalism | Invested in investigative journalism with a dedicated team, winning major awards. | Information available in a *New York Times Events* video, *NYTimes and Vox Journalists Open Up About the Reporting Process*. |
| Website user experience and design | Minimal and conventional design with ample white space. | Aims to improve readers' experience through technology, using visual effects and transitions. |
| Mobile app availability and quality | BuzzFeed had a mobile app. | Third-party apps like "Vox Explainer" offer access to Vox.com RSS feeds. "Vox Connect" is designed for tour guides. |
| Subscription model and pricing | Offered a membership program with monthly ($5) and annual ($100) options for exclusive content and merchandise. | Membership program at $5 per month or $50 annually, offering exclusive content. |
| Advertising frequency and intrusiveness | Primarily used native advertising, with some user experience concerns regarding ad clutter. | Displays less to no ads. |
| Social media presence and engagement | Heavily relied on social media to distribute content. | Strong presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tumblr with 400 million followers and 1.6 billion monthly video views. |
| Diversity and inclusion in reporting | Showed an increase in women and people of color in its newsroom, especially in leadership roles. | Emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with initiatives like "Language, Please." |
| Community engagement and moderation | Not available | Uses community and moderation tools to drive engagement. |
| Price | Not available | $5 per month or $50 annually |
| Ratings | Not available | Not available |