Fact check: What is the background of Snopes founders David Mikkelson and Barbara Mikkelson?

1. Summary of the results

David and Barbara Mikkelson founded Snopes in 1994 as a website initially focused on urban legends and folklore ^[1]. The site began as a hobby project created by the couple in response to urban legends circulating online ^[2]. Neither founder had formal background in investigative research when they started the site ^{[2] [3]}.

Over time, Snopes evolved from its original focus on urban legends to become a comprehensive fact-checking platform covering a wide range of subjects, including political fact-checking and debunking fake news ^{[1] [4]}. The site has grown to become a significant resource for Internet users to submit stories and pictures of questionable veracity ^[1].

David Mikkelson has maintained an apolitical stance, stating he has no party affiliation and has never donated to a political candidate ^[3]. However, the founder has faced significant challenges in recent years, including a legal battle with Proper Media over control of the company, which has resulted in Mikkelson being cut off from all revenues and launching crowdfunding appeals to keep the site operational ^[2].

Additionally, David Mikkelson admitted to plagiarism, lifting material from mainstream news outlets without proper citation, which led to an internal review and removal of unattributed content from the site ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements not typically discussed when examining Snopes' background:

• Financial vulnerabilities: The legal dispute with Proper Media has created significant financial instability for the site, with David Mikkelson being forced to rely on crowdfunding to maintain operations ^[2]. This financial dependence could potentially influence editorial decisions or create pressure to maintain certain narratives that generate donations.
• Lack of formal credentials: The founders' absence of formal training in investigative research ^{[2] [3]} raises questions about their qualifications to serve as authoritative fact-checkers, particularly given the site's influential role in determining what information is considered credible.
• Editorial integrity concerns: The plagiarism incident involving David Mikkelson ^[5] suggests potential issues with editorial standards and oversight, which could undermine the site's credibility as a fact-checking authority.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual, simply requesting background information about the Snopes founders. However, the framing omits several critical aspects that provide important context:

• The question doesn't acknowledge the ongoing controversies surrounding the site's leadership, including the plagiarism scandal and legal battles that have affected its operations and credibility.
• The simple request for "background" may inadvertently promote a sanitized view of the founders without addressing the significant challenges and ethical issues that have emerged in the site's recent history.
• The question doesn't address the potential conflict of interest created by the site's financial struggles and dependence on public funding, which could influence its fact-checking priorities and conclusions.

These omissions could lead readers to form an incomplete understanding of the founders' qualifications and the current state of the organization's credibility and independence.