Fact Checker

MorningLover · ‎10-04-2015

The CEO of Snopes was just suspended for lying.

Snopes CEO Suspended for Stealing Content & Using Fake Identities, Articles to be Retracted.

The CEO and president of Snopes, the website that advertises itself as “the internet’s definitive fact-checking resource” is facing major heat after admitting to plagiarizing dozens of articles.

A BuzzFeed News investigation found that David Mikkelson was involved in a major plagiarizing scandal that encompassed a whopping 54 pieces, Business Insider reports.

“Plagiarism undermines our missions and values, full stop,” Snopes executives said in a statement. “It has no place in any context within this organization.”

Mikkelson’s publishing rights have been revoked, though he remains a 50 percent shareholder and the company’s CEO.

“I engaged in multiple serious copyright violations of content that Snopes didn’t have rights to use,” Mikkelson said in a statement. “There is no excuse for my serious lapses in judgement. I am sorry.”

The stolen pieces were taken from outlets like The Guardian, and published under at least three separate bylines.

Mikkelson even set up a pseudonym: Jeff Zarronandia.

Mikkelson used the pseudonym to “write about topics he knew would get him hate mail under that assumed name,” Brooke Binkowski, former managing editor of Snopes, said. “Plus it made it appear he had more staff than he had.”

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

Just one more reason why that site isn't credible.

JamandBread · ‎06-24-2021

He used content that wasn't his own and didn't credit the owner. I didn't see anywhere that the content was false.

I'll still use Snopes as one of several sources.

proudlyfromNJ · ‎05-01-2010

@ThinkingOutLoud I agree. However I don't find any site credible. Things can be and are twisted no matter where you look.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

Sad to see, but I have become even more skeptical than I ever was about finding any organization of even two people in which the whole group is honest in every respect.

In this case. the plagiarism is bad but it doesn't mean that Snopes published incorrect information , at least not until someone can point out something he stole that was false info.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

One of the biggest problems of these times. Algorithms/robots/humans titled as "fact checkers"? A person need only read a few statistics to understand how very few people/entities, or organizations are trusted.

When numbers come up like 30% for this/15% for that, it is pretty evident that trust has been lost. Why? When you see and hear audible and visible hypocritical things said and done, and wonder why trust now is so limited.

I see truth and fiction, and just straight out lies, being portrayed as facts? To me looking ahead, I see it daily getting worse, not better. Is there and end in sight? Trying to look at it with a truly unbiased view, I don't see it happening any time soon.

As 1 late United States President said:

"Trust, but verify"!

hckynut

hckynut(john)

Johnnyeager · ‎09-05-2014

The height of hypocrisy. I've long found the place to be lacking in honesty, credibility and believability. My personal view, of course.

chessylady · ‎05-01-2010

Facebook needs to be regulated. They are incapable of regulating themselves. Mark Zuckerberg is just another corrupt billionaire. Facebook is highly addictive, manipulative and an invasion of everyone's privacy. Yet, I too am addicted to it. We would not use Snopes very often if not for Facebook.