Ben Cost

Ben Cost is a features reporter known for covering unique and sensationalist stories, such as shark attacks, TikTokkers with Michael Jackson phobias, and individuals suing major tech companies. He has worked in various editorial roles in Shanghai and New York City, including serving as food editor at Shanghaiist, a senior editor at City Weekend, and a managing editor at Shanghai Expat. His hobbies include fishing, biking, making puns, watching 'Sopranos', and exploring NYC for undiscovered culinary gems.

Biography:  https://nypost.com/author/ben-cost/

89%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.

Bias

92%

Examples:

  • The author often includes speculative or attention-grabbing language, such as describing a motorcyclist's death in Death Valley as 'suspected heat exposure' and stating that an interstellar explosion will be 'visible from Earth this summer: NASA'.
  • The author tends to present sensationalist angles in their reporting, such as describing tourists flocking to Death Valley during a heatwave as 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunities' and referring to a space laser transmission striking Earth from 140 million miles away as 'not that far away'.
  • There are instances of the author using clickbait-style headlines, such as 'Another planet discovered that may support human life – and it's not that far away'.

Conflicts of Interest

95%

Examples:

  • There are no direct examples of conflicts of interest in the articles provided, but the author's past work experience includes positions at media companies that may raise questions about their independence and objectivity.

Contradictions

90%

Examples:

  • In one article, the author states that a motorcyclist died in Death Valley due to suspected heat exposure, while in another article about the same event, they report that heat advisories were issued for 136 million people nationwide due to unprecedented heatwave.
  • The author reports on a solar storm with potential for blackouts and auroras but fails to mention any potential positive impacts or benefits of the event.

Deceptions

80%

Examples:

  • In one article, the author implies that a man who sued Apple for a billion dollars over an iPhone malfunction is representative of the 'average' American litigious nature.
  • The author uses misleading language in some of their articles to create sensationalist headlines, such as stating that a space laser transmission striking Earth from 140 million miles away is 'not that far away'.

Recent Articles

Record-Breaking Heatwave: 128 Degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, Claims Lives and Hospitalizations Across the US

Record-Breaking Heatwave: 128 Degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, Claims Lives and Hospitalizations Across the US

Broke On: Monday, 08 July 2024 A historic heatwave engulfs the US, with Death Valley recording Earth's highest temperature of 128°F (53.3°C) on July 8, 2024. The extreme heat has resulted in numerous deaths and hospitalizations across California, Oregon, and other affected areas. The dangerous conditions are expected to persist throughout the week for much of the country.
Upcoming Celestial Spectacle: Witness the Blaze Star's Once-in-a-Lifetime Nova Explosion in Corona Borealis

Upcoming Celestial Spectacle: Witness the Blaze Star's Once-in-a-Lifetime Nova Explosion in Corona Borealis

Broke On: Wednesday, 19 June 2024 Prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event: The Blaze Star, or T Coronae Borealis, a white dwarf star in the constellation Corona Borealis, is predicted to explode and become visible to the naked eye between June and September 2024. This rare occurrence offers astronomers valuable insights into nova explosions and stellar evolution. Stargazers should monitor Corona Borealis for signs of the Blaze Star's explosion during clear nights when the moon is not present or only partially illuminated.
Powerful X-Class Solar Flares from Sunspot AR3664: Possible Sign of Upcoming Solar Storms

Powerful X-Class Solar Flares from Sunspot AR3664: Possible Sign of Upcoming Solar Storms

Broke On: Friday, 10 May 2024 A powerful X-class solar flare from sunspot AR3664, responsible for May 2024's historic G5 geomagnetic storm and auroras, erupted yesterday. This sunspot group, which has spent time on the far side of the sun, is now rotating back into view and may bring another solar storm with potential impacts on technology and infrastructure.
Wendy's Offers Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 Cent Each: A Limited-Time Deal Amidst Rising Prices

Wendy's Offers Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for 1 Cent Each: A Limited-Time Deal Amidst Rising Prices

Broke On: Saturday, 25 May 2024 Wendy's offers Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers for a penny each from May 28 to June 2 as part of National Hamburger Day promotion. Customers can register on the app or website to take advantage, with validity at participating locations and no combination of digital offers allowed.
Newly Discovered Exoplanet Gliese 12 b: An Earth-Sized World Orbiting a Red Dwarf Star

Newly Discovered Exoplanet Gliese 12 b: An Earth-Sized World Orbiting a Red Dwarf Star

Broke On: Thursday, 23 May 2024 In May 2024, NASA's TESS spacecraft announced the discovery of Gliese 12 b, an Earth-sized planet orbiting a red dwarf star approximately 40 light years away. With an estimated size similar to Earth and a surface temperature around 107 degrees Fahrenheit, this intriguing exoplanet is a potential candidate for further study in understanding habitability pathways.
NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Sets Record with 140 Million-Mile Optical Data Transmission

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Sets Record with 140 Million-Mile Optical Data Transmission

Broke On: Saturday, 08 April 2023 NASA's Psyche spacecraft sets a new record by transmitting laser data from 140 million miles away, marking a significant milestone in deep space communication. The achievement, using NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology, demonstrates the potential for high-speed data transmission and opens up possibilities for future missions.

Lunar Crystals Suggest Moon is Older Than Previously Estimated

Broke On: Tuesday, 24 October 2023 The Moon is approximately 40 million years older than previously believed, according to a recent study. This discovery was made through the analysis of lunar rock samples brought back by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The samples contained zircon crystals, which were examined to determine the age of the Moon. The study used uranium-lead dating to measure the age of the zircon crystals. The results indicated that the Moon is around 4.51 billion years old, rather than the previously estimated 4.47 billion years.