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Media Survey (Research)
A media survey is a search to identify media which references the subject of your investigation, including individuals, businesses and groups. The type of media identified can include articles from legitimate news sources, private and public business press releases, written, audio or video interviews, blog postings, social networking profiles and personal websites.
With the rise of social networking websites like Facebook, many details about individuals that previously required public records research can now be found posted by the individual themselves. It is important to note that some individual profiles and social networking websites require “friend” status to view all details associated with a specific individual. However, many do not and can be viewed by any visitor or general network members.
We can search for profiles associated with the subject of your investigation on the most popular social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, LiveJournal, Twitter, Imeem, YouTube, Friendster, Digg, Blogger, Flickr, PhotoBucket, BizShark, DeviantART, Pandora, Flixster, Yelp, Buzznet, Picasa, PictureTrail, Slide, Bebo, Veoh, Last.fm, and other popular sites.
A media survey can be utilized for a number of investigative needs
- Determining if an employee is posting libelous statements and accusations about their current and former employers
- Identifying personal websites detailing illegal, violent, threatening, or obscene behavior
- Chronicling current and upcoming personal events and recreation that may conflict with a worker’s compensation claim via social networking profiles
- Documenting misappropriation of employer-owned assets and intellectual property on a personal website, unfairly competing with their employer by “moonlighting” or acts of industrial espionage via the posting of client lists, trade secrets, proprietary prototype plans, or currently unannounced event/product releases
- Identifying photos of individuals, vehicles and real property instrumental to intelligence-gathering and advance reconnaissance prior to performingsurveillance
- Tracking employee time theft associated with posting and/or commenting on non-business related websites/blogs/social networks during business hours
- Due diligence investigations focused on gathering intelligence of the public perception of an individual/business/group
- Identifying photos, messages, comments, or calendar events that give an indication of illicit activities for infidelity investigations
We cannot predict what kind of information may result from a Media Survey; every case is different. We can safely predict that in a comprehensive investigation you stand a very good chance of leaving substantial information undiscovered if you omit this worthwhile search.