Perfecting your 15-minute background check - and why you should do it every time
IRE 2018 Kate Howard @journokateh Do I really have to background EVERYONE?
-Even just a man on the street?
-Even if they are super nice?
-What if my mom knows her? IF YOUR MOTHER SAYS SHE LOVES YOU...
CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(please don’t tell my mom) Meet Dan Benedict!
- Former Green Beret and nurse - Born-again Christian - Leader of new nonprofit devoted to rescuing exploited girls from pimps and traffickers
Florida Times-Union, Nov. 12, 2010 … Sexual predator, and white separatist weapons stockpiler guy Was this my fault?
You betcha!
I didn't have a system to check sources out.
I also didn't listen to my gut. They had t-shirts! They had eyeless people doing some kung fu stuff! Was this my fault?
You betcha!
I didn't have a system to check sources out.
I also didn't listen to my gut. What should my red flags have been?
- He literally said he had a hero complex
- Military background was likely exaggerated
- Some people just feel like liars What should my system look like?
Every person MUST BE CHECKED on a basic level, -- but every person doesn't need every check
What aspects of this person’s background are relevant?
Keep a list of sites handy for your community (tinyurl.com/IREbackgrounding) Google the hell out of them
How many different ways? As many as you can think of, and go three pages in.
At least: whole name (In and out of quotes) and organization, whole name (in and out of quotes) and city/state, last name and organization, whole name in quotes and mugshot. Check your organization’s archives
This should be your first stop for all stories anyway.
Sometimes that guy at the council meeting gives you the perfect quote because he's been saying the same thing to reporters for years. Court records Civil Courts: Marriage, child support and divorce filings (not bad for backgrounding potential dates either) Debt collection attempts Orders of protection requests (the type of court varies) Criminal Courts – name, probably a DOB Any criminal cases, traffic tickets Assessors office: Property records, unpaid taxes Professional licenses
Does this person say she is a doctor or a nurse? Make sure. Same goes for any field that requires a license. Look for valid licenses AND any disciplinary actions. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
FB: Search name, see ‘about’ page for jobs and relationships.
If friends are public, search for relevant first or last names.
Especially for politicians or potential candidates, check photos and posts for red flags of racism, misogyny, inappropriate behavior.
Twitter archives from days before a person was high-profile LinkedIn
Next level: Use previous jobs, titles, business names
• Sign up for LinkedIn For Journalists • https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3753151 • Don’t forget to hide your profile before you go searching! Nexis
Basic: Public records search Can turn up hunting licenses, voter registration, cell phone numbers, company names, former partners/spouses/roommates, email addresses or even neighbors.
None of this should be treated as primary information. No Nexis? Ask a friend. PACER
Civil lawsuits, federal offenses, bankruptcies
If your organization doesn’t have it, ask a friend.
Walk down to the courthouse! Get old school
Call someone who would know.
Phone book, city guides, church directories What if nothing turns up?
Say it out loud. What if something DOES turn up? What if you do everything right and still miss something?
It happens.
Own up to it and make it right.
If there’s a victim, honor that person - and save the next reporter.
Make your own checklist!
tinyurl.com/IREbackgrounding Questions?
Follow me on twitter: @JournoKateH
After this weekend: Ask your new friends from IRE!
Honestly, ask any of us. We all want better journalism and will be happy to help. MAKE YOUR OWN BACKGROUNDING CHECKLIST
Slides from my IRE 18 presentation are here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jcajREenv8yABtg8fmqc_8brWS5xrKc1_Z0asRpTMP4/edit?usp =sharing
Google: name in and out of quotes, add town, organization and mugshot
Example: “Daniel Benedict” Jacksonville, daniel benedict Jacksonville, “Dan Benedict” Jacksonville, “Daniel Benedict” mugshot, Daniel Benedict Defender Foundation
Facebook and LinkedIn: check the about pages and job affiliations to make sure they are who they say they are, live where they say they live and do what they say they do.
Criminal records: local, federal, sex offender registry - use nationwide sites and find your local / state sites. https://www.nsopw.gov/en http://kool.corrections.ky.gov/KOOL/AdvancedSearch http://www.dc.state.fl.us/OffenderSearch/Search.aspx https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
State Secretary of State: search for association with any businesses. https://app.sos.ky.gov/ftsearch/
Charity associations: ProPublica has the best nonprofit search right now. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
Political activity: (different for each state) http://www.kref.state.ky.us/krefsearch/ Www.opensecrets.org
PAID SERVICE TO INVESTIGATE COMPANIES: https://www.tlo.com/homepage
Birthplace (if you have first 3 of social): http://www.stevemorse.org/ssn/ssn.html
Voter registration sites: https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/vic/ (play w/ DOB until you get a hit)
Nexis for freelancers: Www.expertaccess.org
Free version of Pacer: www.courtlistener.com
Tracking down military people (thanks to Anthony Capaccio): call the congressional/media query number at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis-- 314 801-0816. It's manned from 7am-5pm CST and reporters can leave message.
- The best way to request a record is to fax to 314-801-0763. Mark it ``Time Sensitive/Expedited Media'' request of the person's records. Ask for all information releasable under FOIA about the service record, which will be compiled in a Form ``13164, Information Releasable Under the Freedom of Information Act.''
Provide as much information as you can about the subject, such as military service, DOB, SSN, likely years of service.
There is an email designated for congressional office inquiries that a reporter could use but the preferred NARA method is fax. Here's the email: [email protected]
Also print out a copy of this useful Congressional Research Service report on military records: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/RS21282.pdf
MAKE YOUR OWN LOCAL LIST (at minimum, these sites):
Local criminal/civil court site Local property assessor site Voter registration/polling place Secretary of State’s office/business search Statewide licensure boards search Political donation history Statewide offender site Sex offender registry