Our History

TruthOrFiction.com was founded in 1999 by Rich Buhler, a broadcaster, speaker, author, broadcast journalist, and producer who researched and wrote about rumors and urban legends for more than 30 years.

Because of both his knowledge about what he terms “eRumors” and his broadcast background, Rich was a popular guest on radio and television and has appeared on national and international outlets including on CNN, MSNBC, NBC, Fox News, BBC, CBC, as well as local television and radio stations from Maryland to California. He has also either written, or been featured in, numerous newspaper and magazine articles.

Rich’s interest in rumors and urban legends began during the years he worked in the news media in Los Angeles for CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting. For fifteen years he also hosted a nationally syndicated, live, daily talk show from Los Angeles and his listeners became familiar with his occasionally putting on his “Rumor Rich Hat” and looking into current rumors.
He created TruthOrFiction.com to provide Internet users with a quick and easy way to check out the accuracy of forwarded emails.

He also published “The eRumor Report,” a regular email update that keeps subscribers posted on the latest eRumors and virus warnings. He called it “Hoodwink Insurance.” His TruthorFiction.com newspaper column was published weekly including to the U.S. Armed Forces in Stars and Stripes. His weekly radio feature was aired on various stations throughout the U.S.
Rich has won numerous honors for his work including awards from Toastmasters International, The Southern California Motion Picture Council, Religion In Media, Biola University (Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree) and Trinity College (Honorary Doctor of Humanities).

Rich was the president of Branches Communications in California, a Radio-Television-Film production company. He was also an ordained minister, the author of several best-selling books, and a voice for those who have experienced what he terms “emotional injury” from abuse. He hosted of the radio program Talk From the Heart, a daily live talk show that is broadcast daily from KBRT-AM 740 in Los Angeles.

Rich operated TruthOrFiction.com until his death from pancreatic cancer in May of 2012. His family took over operations of the site and remains owners.

Truthorfiction.com remains dedicated to Rich’s vision and the team is proud to carry on his legacy of seeking truth and exposing fiction.