Save Snopes Campaign Has Important Message At Its Core

Save Snopes Campaign Has Important Message

Follow the _Save Snopes_ campaign

**UPDATED:** Stay up to date on the Save Snopes campaign, legal battle, and news. Below are some of the latest stories on the case to keep you up to date on what’s happened so far.
[7/28 – Snopes founder goes on offense amidst lawsuit allegations](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/jul/28/ticker-fact-checking-website-snopescom-considers/#) (San Diego Reader)
[Who’s The Real Boss At Snopes?](https://www.npr.org/2017/07/26/539576135/fact-checking-website-snopes-is-fighting-to-stay-alive) (NPR)
[Snopes seeks to crowdfund legal battle](https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/24/snopes-seeks-crowdfunding-in-ownership-battle/) (TechCrunch)
[https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/07/the-ugly-dispute-threatening-snopes/534708/](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/07/the-ugly-dispute-threatening-snopes/534708/) (The Atlantic)
[Snopes in complicated legal situation](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/business/media/snopes-crowdfunding-proper-media.html) (NYT)
[Snopes in trouble after outsourcing ads](https://www.niemanlab.org/2017/07/snopes-facing-legal-and-advertising-trouble-is-embarking-on-an-urgent-campaign-for-reader-donations/) (Neiman Lab)
[Snopes to readers, “we need your help”](https://www.niemanlab.org/2017/07/snopes-facing-legal-and-advertising-trouble-is-embarking-on-an-urgent-campaign-for-reader-donations/) (Highly Cited)

Updated: Want to help “Save Snopes”

A lesson to publishers

1.) Where’s the data

What are outside parties offering? Can it be measured, tested, proven? If so, what data are you going to use?
This is all stuff publishers should be able to verify for themselves. It’s important that you understand the data that is being gathered and graded.

2.) Test it

Testing is where we find the data that matters. It’s how we know what works and what doesn’t. When 3rd parties are afraid to test something it is almost always a red flag.
Even if it’s not, publishers should be seeking to test on their own. This will provide the confidence needed to make data-driven decisions.
Beware contracts or outsiders who forbid testing or make up a reason why it doesn’t work – it’s stripping you of your most valuable tool to keep people honest.  Competition…

3.) Competition is good

Competition is an extension of testing. Often those afraid of testing are actually afraid of competition.
For decades, publishers have had to deal with outsiders attempting to get them to sign contracts that eliminate competition.
These contracts almost always hurt the publisher and benefit the provider.  Often, the provider will artificially inflate the results for a short period of time, then demand a long term agreement.  During that time they will make decisions that are detrimental to the long term health of your site just to make a quick profit.
Publishers should always avoid long-term contracts that don’t allow testing or competition – especially with parties that they haven’t worked with for long periods of time.

Summarizing the story

Snopes.com is a popular site and the crowdfunding effort behind their efforts to “Save Snopes” seems to be riding a powerful wave at the moment. We want to wish them the best in their efforts. However, at the core of this story is a very important message to publishers. Beware outsiders that are afraid of data, testing, and competition and who want you to sign long term contracts.