Snoping Snopes.
(Image courtesy of snopes.com.)
Website: snopes.com
On-site description: Snopes is the internet’s definitive fact-checking resource.
When misinformation obscures the truth and readers don’t know what to trust, Snopes’ fact-checking and original, investigative reporting lights the way to evidence-based and contextualized analysis. We always link to and document our sources so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds.
Bias: LEFT-BIAS
Reliability rating: 34/50 (FAIRLY TRUSTWORTHY)
CSBAH Test:
C (Credentials)
The Snopes team is made up of many credentialed people. The founder and executive editor of the site, David Mikkelson, has wide-ranging interests in a variety of subjects (particularly folklore) and professional expertise in the computer industry.
David Emery, a story editor for the site, is, according to his profile page, "a Portland-based writer and editor with more than two decades’ experience investigating rumors, hoaxes, and urban legends, first as a freelancer for About.com (1997-2016), and for Snopes.com since July 2016. His varied media career has also included stints as a television writer, contributing editor of a (pre-internet) satirical newspaper, and newsroom librarian."
Alex Kasprak is the senior editor. He is a science writer as well as a journalist. His work has been featured in New Scientist and The Atlantic.
An example of a Snopes journalist is Madison Dapcevich. She has written content for IFL Science and EcoWatch. She holds a master's degree in environmental science and natural resource journalism from the University of Montana.
We give Snopes a 7/10 in credentials.
S (Sources)
Snopes states on their website that they always show their sources (this has been disputed). Sources used by Snopes include:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—reliable, pro-science
The Daily Beast—fairly reliable, strong left-bias
Live Science—reliable, least-biased, pro-science
The Hill—reliable, least-biased
The New York Times—fairly reliable, left-biased
We give Snopes a 7/10 for sources. While their sources are mainly trustworthy, almost all have some left-bias.
B (Bias)
Take a look at Snopes' home page and see that it shows no major bias. They generally publish non-sensational headlines.
"Did Canada Approve Psychedelic Mushrooms for Depression and Anxiety Treatment?"
"Debunking the Meme: Smoking vs. COVID-19"
"FDA Allows 1st Rapid Virus Test That Gives Results at Home"
"Are Clorox Wipes and Toilet Paper Sold Out Again?"
"Are These Real Tree-Climbing Goats in Morocco?"
"Fact Check: Trump Did Not Call Republicans ‘The Dumbest Group of Voters’"
Snopes has run stories that seem to favor the left:
"Trump Putting Democracy to the Test After His Loss to Biden"
"Trump Seems to Acknowledge Biden Win, But He Won’t Concede"
However, they have also rated some Biden gaffes as "Correct Attribution", showing that they do not shy away from rating things that might be damaging to the left if true. The most biased thing about most articles is the subheading, which might be:
"Gaffes do not determine transitions of power."
"Claiming suspects in high-profile crimes are "registered Democrats" is a long-running disinformation trope."
"A remark made by U.S. President Joe Biden during a CNN town hall was taken out of context."
Sometimes Snopes clearly twists reality a little. In this story, they use loaded words, like "bizarre" "distortion" "misinformation" and "politicize" to describe Fauci's opponents.
I give Snopes a 7/10 on bias. While they used to publish rather unemotional stories, they have occasionally broken that pattern in recent years.
A (Acclamation)
Snopes is considered reliable by the following sources (these lists are not complete. The link on the name of the site will take you to where they talked about Snopes):
Passive Tech—pro-technology
Politifact—reliable, minor left-bias
Techjunkie—pro-technology
Make Use Of—pro-technology
Snopes is considered unreliable by these sources:
NathanWinograd.com—pro-animals
FoodBabe—pro-health
Politifact Bias—unknown reliability, right-bias
We give Snopes 7/10 in acclamation, as most sources that consider it unreliable are less reliable than those considering it trustworthy.
H (History)
Searches on leading fact-checking websites show how many times Snopes has failed a fact-check:
Politifact: None
Just Facts: Three (first, second, third )
FactCheck.org: None
Media Bias/Fact Check: None
TruthOrFiction: None
I give Snopes 6/10 in history.
As with all "Source" pages, this page may be updated, so you are encouraged to check back every once in a while.
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