Is 1440 News Safe? A Deep Dive into Bias, Ownership, and Legitimacy (2025)

Finding a reliable news source today can feel like navigating a minefield, with 24-hour rage cycles and endless clickbait dominating the online space. Among newer outlets that have drawn attention is 1440 News, which raises the common question: is 1440 News safe? And the concern goes beyond malware—users want to know if the site can be trusted. Can you trust this newsletter with your personal data? Can you trust its investors? And, perhaps most importantly, can you trust it not to manipulate your worldview?

The Short Answer: Yes, 1440 News (or 1440 Daily Digest) is safe. It is a legitimate, Chicago-based media company—not a scam—verified by independent watchdogs like Ad Fontes Media and AllSides as a “Center” or “Middle Bias” publication. Unlike many free products that survive by selling user data, 1440 generates revenue primarily through visible B2B sponsorships and native advertising.

This article provides a comprehensive safety audit of 1440 Media, examining its ownership, privacy practices, and editorial philosophy to determine whether it truly delivers “news without motives.”

What Is 1440 News?

To understand if 1440 is safe, you must first understand what it is—and what it isn’t.

1440 Media was founded in 2017 by Tim Huelskamp, a former private equity professional, and Andrew Steigerwald, a PhD scientist. This leadership duo—finance and hard science—explains the newsletter’s unique tone. Unlike legacy media outlets staffed by pundits, 1440 was built on a “just the facts” ethos designed to respect the user’s time.

The name “1440” is a dual reference: it honors the year the printing press was invented (1440 AD) and represents the number of minutes in a day (1,440). Their goal is to provide a comprehensive view of the world in a less-than-five-minute read.

The “Inch-Deep, Mile-Wide” Philosophy

1440 explicitly positions itself against the “riches in the niches” trend. While newsletters like Morning Brew focus deeply on business and The Skimm targets lifestyle, 1440 aims to be an “inch-deep, mile-wide” aggregator. It doesn’t produce original investigative journalism; instead, it curates stories from over 100 diverse sources—ranging from The Wall Street Journal to NPR—to provide a balanced diet of information.

The numbers suggest this approach is working. As of 2025, 1440 boasts over 4.5 million subscribers and maintains an industry-leading open rate of nearly 60%, significantly higher than the media industry average of 20-30%.

Is 1440 News Legit or a Scam?

A common fear regarding free online services is the adage: “If the product is free, you are the product.” Is 1440 News a scam designed to harvest your data?

Business Legitimacy

1440 Media, LLC is a registered US business headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. While some users search for “1440 news complaints,” the company maintains a profile with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Although it is not BBB accredited (which is common for digital-first media companies), it is a verified entity with a physical footprint, employing roughly 20-25 staff members.

The Revenue Model: B2B Ads, Not Data Selling

The primary reason 1440 is “safe” from a data privacy perspective lies in its business model. The company generates revenue through sponsorships and native advertising placed within the newsletter.

They do not operate as a “data broker” selling your email list to third-party spammers. Instead, they sell access to your attention via the newsletter itself. This is a crucial distinction. With reported revenue exceeding $20 million annually (roughly $1 million per employee), 1440 is a highly profitable, stable business. Scams are typically fly-by-night operations; 1440’s financial health incentivizes them to protect their reputation and their subscribers’ trust.

Privacy and “Surveillance Capitalism”

Skeptics on forums like Reddit often flag 1440 for using tracking pixels. It is true that 1440 tracks open rates and click-through rates. However, this is standard industry practice for all newsletters (including Substack and Morning Brew). They must track these metrics to report performance to the advertisers that fund the free product. This is not malicious surveillance; it is the mechanism that keeps the newsletter free.

How to Privately and Safely Browse News Websites

While 1440 News is safe, clicking links in any newsletter takes you to the open web, where privacy is harder to guarantee. News sites often use cookies, trackers, and fingerprinting tools to monitor your reading habits and build a profile on you.

To browse news stories privately and securely, we recommend using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) like BearVPN.

Why BearVPN Helps

Using a tool like BearVPN adds a critical layer of “Technical Safety” to your news consumption:

• Hide Your IP & Location: BearVPN masks your real IP address with a virtual one. This prevents third-party trackers and advertisers from pinpointing your physical location or linking your browsing history directly to your household.
• Encrypt Your Data: It uses AES-256 encryption, a military-grade standard that secures your connection. This is especially vital if you read news on public Wi-Fi (like at a coffee shop), where hackers can otherwise intercept your traffic.
• No-Logs Policy: BearVPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not record or store your online activities.
• Access Global Content: With over 2,000 servers in 50+ locations, you can access news sources that might be geo-restricted in your region.

How to Use BearVPN

Setting up a secure browsing environment is simple:

Step 1. Download: Install the BearVPN app on your device.

Step 2. Select a Server: Open the app and choose a server location. For the fastest speeds while reading news, choose a server geographically close to you. To access international news, select a server in that specific country.

Step 3. Connect: Click the “Connect” button. Once connected, your internet traffic is encrypted, allowing you to click through 1440’s links with peace of mind.

Who Owns 1440 Media?

Understanding ownership is vital for assessing editorial independence. Is 1440 owned by a media conglomerate or a political “dark money” group?

The Employee-Owned Model

Unusually for a media company of its size, 1440 Media is largely employee-owned, with significant equity held by its founders and staff. This ownership structure aligns the employees’ financial incentives with the long-term health of the brand, reducing the pressure to sacrifice trust for short-term rage-clicks.

Investor Profile

The company has received funding, but not from the usual media titans like Rupert Murdoch or massive hedge funds. 1440’s investors include Cannon Capital and MassChallenge, raising approximately $2.5 million in early-stage venture capital.

This relatively small amount of outside capital (compared to the hundreds of millions raised by competitors like BuzzFeed or Axios) suggests that 1440 has maintained a high degree of independence. They are profitable enough to fund their own operations without needing to push a specific investor’s political agenda.

Is 1440 News Really Unbiased?

For many users, “safety” means protection from propaganda. The query “is 1440 news really unbiased” is the central pillar of the trust discussion.

The “News Without Motives” Claim

1440’s slogan is “All your news. None of the bias.” In a polarized world, no human endeavor is perfectly objective, but 1440 achieves a high level of neutrality through curation rather than commentary. They focus on events (what happened) rather than opinions (what you should think about it).

Third-Party Data: Ad Fontes and AllSides

Independent media watchdogs back up 1440’s claims:

1. Ad Fontes Media: The creators of the Media Bias Chart generally categorize 1440 in the “Middle or Balanced Bias” section. Their reliability scores for 1440 are high, indicating a focus on factual reporting over analysis or opinion.
2. AllSides: This rating agency assigns 1440 a “Center” rating. Perhaps the most compelling data point is 1440’s audience composition: their subscriber base is split almost perfectly into thirds—33% Left, 33% Center, and 33% Right. This rare “33/33/33” split is strong social proof that the content does not alienate any specific political group.

The “Selection Bias” Nuance

Sophisticated readers know that choosing which stories to cover is itself a form of bias (Selection Bias). 1440 attempts to mitigate this by covering a broad range of topics—Science, Finance, History, and Politics—without using emotionally charged adjectives. While some critics argue this leads to “bothsidesism” (treating unequal arguments as equal), it is the safest approach for generalist readers seeking raw information.

Is 1440 News Conservative or Liberal?

Because 1440 strips away the emotive language found in partisan media, it can act as a Rorschach test for readers.

• Why it looks Conservative: It often avoids the progressive framing and “social justice” adjectives common in mainstream outlets like The New York Times.
• Why it looks Liberal: It reports on climate change, science, and diversity initiatives as facts rather than debates.

The Verdict: 1440 is a Centrist Aggregator. If you are accustomed to Fox News, it may feel slightly liberal. If you read Mother Jones, it may feel conservative. This friction is a feature, not a bug—it indicates the content is hovering successfully in the middle.

1440 vs. The Competition (Comparative Table)

How does 1440 stack up against other popular “safe” newsletters?

Pros and Cons of Subscribing

Pros:

• Cognitive Relief: Reduces “headline stress disorder” by providing news without the rage-bait.
• Efficiency: A true 5-minute read that covers politics, science, and culture.
• Trust: Verified “Center” bias ratings and a transparent business model.
• Educational: Includes “Etcetera” and “History” sections that spark curiosity beyond politics.

Cons:

• Lack of Depth: The “inch-deep” model means you get summaries, not deep-dive investigations.
• Ads: As a free product, you will see sponsors (though they are clearly marked).
• False Balance: In an effort to remain neutral, it may sometimes present “both sides” of an issue where the evidence heavily favors one side.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a “Safe Harbor” in the stormy seas of modern media, 1440 News is a safe and legitimate choice.

It is not a scam, it is not a data harvesting operation, and it is not a propaganda machine for a hidden billionaire owner. Its employee-owned structure, high revenue-per-employee efficiency, and verified balanced bias ratings make it one of the most trustworthy “entry points” for daily information.

While it should not be your only source of news (depth is still important), it is arguably the safest way to start your morning without raising your blood pressure.

FAQ

How does 1440 make money?

1440 generates revenue through B2B advertising. Companies pay to place sponsored messages in the newsletter. They do not charge subscription fees.

Is the 1440 newsletter free?

Yes, it is 100% free to subscribe. There is no paywall for the Daily Digest.

Can I trust the links in 1440?

Yes. 1440 links out to reputable sources (e.g., Reuters, AP, WSJ). Navigating through 1440 is generally safer than browsing open social media feeds, as the links are vetted by human editors, reducing the risk of clicking on malware or fake news sites.