Thursday, May 14, 2009
Intelius Blog is Journalism First, Marketing Second
Easton at BusinessBlogWire writes a review of the Intelius corporate blog today. Like Easton, I have some quibbles with style (the posts are awfully long). But it's a great example of the kind of "journamarketing" you could be doing.
Intelius helps people get access to public information through personal background checks and other services. They deal with a lot of complicated issues, and the people who work there become experts in that space. So they're using their blog to explain some of those complicated issues. It's really nothing more than journalism. There's no overt sales pitch for Intelius. For example, the blog has entries about what kinds of mistakes you might find in public records -- and whether it's a good idea to publicize the names of people who've received concealed-weapons permits.
You might think this is a silly thing for them to spend time on. But when people want to dig into public records, I'll bet they almost always go online first. So building a repository of information, dedicated to helping people track down public information, will pay off in the long run with more referral traffic and a better online reputation among people who might use Intelius' services.
Information about Intelius, Founded by Naveen Jain
Founded by Naveen Jain, Intelius well known in the information commerce industry helps clients make intelligent decisions about assets, people, and businesses. Intelius applies advanced heuristics to public and publicly-available information, delivering it on-demand and online to consumers and businesses to facilitate a more informed decision-making process in business and life.
Intelius ranks among the top 100 most trafficked Websites, with an average of one million unique visitors daily. The many products and offerings of the company include a set of comprehensive and customizable pre-employment screening services, a consumer-facing people search service, list management, and an award-winning identity theft detection, prevention and insurance service.
Intelius’ background checks have helped consumers make better decisions about the people, businesses and assets in their world, from potential dates to new neighbors.
People search by Intelius, has reconnected thousands of people with friends or relatives with whom they’ve lost touch. In the HR world, Intelius’ employment screening services enable companies to analyze candidates’ professional backgrounds, from drug testing and fingerprinting to criminal records, professional licenses and education verification, plus a best of breed SSN verification service.
These services have helped create leads and confirm data for millions of customers, in addition to giving them peace of mind and the ability to make better decisions by making use of valuable public information. The Intelius executive team consists of IT and Internet professionals, technologists, business providers, and security specialists, and is led by Chairman Bill Owens and CEO Naveen Jain.
Intelius makes security available at multiple levels, including the personal, technological, and operational levels. Intelius also protects customers’ personal names, credit card numbers, and social security numbers. Intelius’ Verisign certificate signals safe and secure web transactions.
Reference: Intelius.com
http://www.peoplesearches.com/news/
Sunday, March 15, 2009
AP CEO Tom Curley Discusses Open Government Effort
In 2007 and 2008 he earned national awards for his work on First Amendment and open records issues, and this year he received a national citation for journalistic excellence from the William Allen White Foundation.
In question-and-answer form, he discusses the 2009 Sunshine Week initiative spearheaded by media organizations.
Q. Sunshine Week 2009 marks the fifth year of the national effort to initiate a public dialogue in the United States about the people's right to know. What's different, compared to previous years?
A. I'm sure the Sunshine Week brand and the goals and values behind it are becoming familiar to more people than ever. But for me the biggest payback for five years of intense annual open government teamwork is to get us used to working together on these issues. A united front is the only way we hold down our end of the checks and balances that make the system work. Our progress has been significant because so many grasped the threat to democratic processes.
Q. Upon taking office, President Barack Obama rolled back some of the policies instituted by George W. Bush and promised greater openness and accountability. Do you expect the Obama administration to initiate significant changes in the rules of engagement between the military and the media?
A. There are promising signs that make it seem possible, but we can't assume it will happen. Where the military is engaged in combat, everything it does is expected to serve the mission. We've seen the Pentagon devoting enormous resources to developing doctrines and tactics for turning news reporting in all media into an offensive weapon where possible, or, at least neutralizing any effects of news reporting that are viewed as interfering with the mission. We have to remain ready to evade or challenge such efforts. That's part of our mission. We've reached out to the military and are hopeful we might find important areas of common ground. After all, we both serve the American people.
Q. An Obama administration team has been tasked with the responsibility of writing an "open government" directive that will outline how agencies and departments in the federal government will be more transparent. What concrete idea would you recommend to put teeth into such a directive?
A. Appointing the "chief technology officer" who's supposed to coordinate the writing of that directive would be a good start. But the only thing that will really make all these good intentions effective is a work environment in government in which compliance with open records law carries incentives and rewards for government employees. Right now, even with the good messages coming from the new administration, disclosing information carries only burdens and risks to the agency executive who makes the call on a sensitive request. It still takes courage just to obey the law. That's got to change.
Q. Any movement on calls to Congress to make its records as available to the public as records from the executive branch of government?
A. Not that I'm aware of.
Q: What is the outlook for a federal shield law?
A. The people I talk to say there's a better than even chance a bill will go to the White House this summer. I hope that's true. The legislation as it stands now certainly isn't perfect. I know some in our business are unhappy with the definition of a journalist, and others are unhappy that government should be allowed to define a journalist at all. And there are more if's, and's, and whereas's than any of us would prefer in the provisions that say when the shield is effective. But on balance, I think it would be an acceptable deal for protection we need.
Q. Sunshine Week's government transparency project this year is enlisting journalists, educators and students, openness advocates and others to develop a snapshot of public records that states make available on their Web sites. Is progress being made in opening up government records without legal recourse on the state level?
A. It varies from state to state. The examples to emulate are states like Connecticut that have commissions or ombudsmen to help citizens use open records laws and in some cases mediate disputes before anybody has to go to court. Last year's federal FOIA amendment established the first step for such assistance at the federal level. It won't be up and running for a while, but it will fill an important gap in the ability of ordinary citizens to get information that should be public but which government resists disclosing.
Q. Does a weak economy hinder or help open government initiatives?
A. It certainly adds to the overall angst, but it doesn't have to hinder. The laws already on the books are powerful levers, and together we advocates of open government can speak loudly in persuading governments to abide by those laws. That costs will and energy, but it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
Q. Any change expected in the media's traditional role as a watchdog of government activity on behalf of the public?
A. None whatsoever. Media businesses may be changing, but their role stays the same.
Reference: Google.AP
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Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Public Backs Criminal Record Checks
The public overwhelmingly supports criminal record checks on volunteers working with children, Government research shows.
More than 90% of those surveyed said they backed checks on volunteers and a similar percentage said they would be prepared to undergo such checks themselves.
A report last year found red tape and unnecessary criminal record checks were deterring volunteers from coming forward.
The Commission on the Future of Volunteering called on ministers to remove bureaucratic barriers to charity work.
But in a Home Office-commissioned poll, more than 70% asked said they thought checks by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which holds criminal records data, deterred criminals from applying to work with children or vulnerable adults.
A similar proportion thought criminal checks would catch pedophiles and other unsuitable adults trying to get access to children.
But nearly one in five people expressed concerns about how accurate and up-to-date CRB data was.
Figures released last year showed more than 12,000 people found inaccuracies in their CRB files.
The Home Office estimates criminal records checks have prevented more than 80,000 people working with children and vulnerable adults.
Identity Minister Meg Hillier said: "This research clearly destroys the myth that people are put off volunteering by CRB checks. Most people are only too willing to be checked and understand it protects children and vulnerable adults."
Reference: google.com/hostednews/ukpress
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Saturday, December 27, 2008
How to Use a Public Records Database
What Can I Find the Information?
There are many different things that you can find online using a public records database, including birth and death records, marriage records, current and past addresses and phone numbers. The key to finding the information that you are looking for is knowing a little information about the person and where to look.
Thousands of people have begun using an online public records database to build their family history. You can often find records dating back to the 1800’s in many of the online public records databases, making it an excellent option when you want to find those who you only know by name.
How Do I Begin?
The first thing that you will want to do is find the public records database that you want to use. For many, a free database is the best option, but if you are in a hurry or want to see the results without having to look through several free sites, then you may want to choose to pay for a subscription to a website that offers information on others.
You may also want to check with your state website, especially if you are looking for information on court records or other legal matters. For example, background checks can be completed by entering in the relevant information, such as government issued number or name and birth date, to find out tons of information on the person that you are researching.
Laws and Regulations
Most of the time, if someone has their telephone number listed, then you will easily be able to find current information on them via the Internet. For example, if you are looking for a friend from high school, then you can enter their name into the database and find some matches based on your search criteria. It may be more difficult to find a person if they have been married or have changed their name for another reason.
It is perfectly legal to find information on people who are listed in public directories. If you are serious about finding someone online, then you may simply want to pay for a detective website, where you may be able to find more comprehensive information, provided that you know all of the relevant information that is needed.
Costs
The costs of accessing a public records database will vary from being free to about thirty dollars a month. Many different websites also offer a free trial, so that you will know exactly how to search for the information that you want before your trial is up.
Reference: uspublicrecordssearch.com
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Finding Public Records You Need In No Time
Finding public records on your own can take hours, or even days, of hard research. By choosing an online service to help you, you can find all of the information that you need within minutes, so that you aren’t stuck at your desk trying to find out whether or not you should hire a new nanny, or who your great, great grandfather’s parents were.
What Do You Need?
The type of website that you choose should be based on what type of specific information that you need. For example, if you want to perform criminal background checks, then you will want to find a website that offers that service for a relatively low fee. You may also need genealogy services, which make finding public records from a long time ago painless and quick.
You may also want to find an old friend’s telephone number or address, which can be done for free on some websites, providing that you know their name and the city that they live in. If you do not know this information, then you will need to use a more advanced and generalized search to look around the nation to find who you are looking for.
You can also use free telephone directories to quickly find the name that goes with a telephone number, to make sure that you want to call them back before you pick up the phone. Finding public records doesn’t have to take all day; it can be fast and easy with the right website.
What Is Public Information For?
Basically, finding public records online can be used in three main ways. First, you can use the information that you find to build a genealogy report, which can be used for generations and generations to come. Second, you can use the information to protect you and your family, for example, when you are hiring a domestic employee. Third, you can use the information to find someone that you have been looking for, such as an old friend from high school.
Lastly, you can use the information that you find to help you hire and screen potential customers, such as someone who wants to lease an apartment, or potential employees to make sure that they are right for your company. Most of the time, you will need a different website for each of these ways of find public records.
Streamlined Content
Unfortunately, most websites that are devoted to helping you in finding public records won’t have all of the services that you need. There are often websites that are devoted to one specific search type, such as genealogy or court documents, but not both. There are the occasional few that can provide you will several different types of information, as long as you pay the fee or membership costs they require.
The good news is that all of these websites are fairly inexpensive, ranging from about two dollars per use to twenty dollars for a month.
Reference: uspublicrecordssearch.com
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The Best Way to Find Divorce Records
Begin Searching
One of the ways to get started when you want to find divorce records is to simply use your favorite search engine, and type in the person’s name that you are looking for, along with a phrase or word, such as “divorce”. Even though you may not find much like this, it is free, and it may help you find what you are looking for.
You can also use a free site to find some preliminary information, although you will rarely be able to find divorce records in their complete form by using a free, non-government site. If you want to find the easiest, fastest and most accurate results, then you will also need to know some basic information, such as when the divorce may have taken place.
Free Searches
Some free searches will give you exactly what you need when you want to find divorce records, but you need to be prepared to be patient. It may take a little searching to find a free site that actually delivers the documents, without asking you to pay for their services.
Most states list their court records online, but not all do. For example, California has a comprehensive list of the court records that are on file available online, while Arkansas court documents are more difficult to access. A virtual private eye can be the best way to find divorce records online, especially if you are pressed for time and want to see the results of your search quickly.
Paid Searches
Most websites will allow you to do a preliminary search for free, but since you will only use the person’s name for this type of search, there will be several invalid results. The best searches are those that use some other type of identifying criteria, such as name and birth date, or name and government identification number. It is important to remember that, even though it happens rarely, some results will not be accurate.
The best way that you can avoid finding incorrect information when you want to find divorce records online is to make sure the site that you are using is legitimate, and that you have entered the correct information into the search fields. It also helps if you have access to a state or federal website, but since these are limited, this may not always be an option. Finding the information that you need doesn’t have to take days or months when you choose an online service, which will allow you to have the divorce records that you need immediately.
Reference: uspublicrecordssearch.com
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Can You Find Marriage Records Online?
Where Do I Look?
You can find marriage records online using a background check, or by searching civil or court documents for a divorce record. Most of the time, you will want to find both the marriage and the divorce records, making a comprehensive search your best option. Luckily, there are many different websites that you can use to find the information that you are looking for.
A reputable site is your best option when you want to find marriage records online, so make sure that you search the Internet for any complaints that have been filed on the website that you want to use. The best websites are those that are relatively inexpensive, and have a large database with information from all of the states.
What is the Cost?
The cost to find marriage records online will vary, depending on the website that you choose to use. You can often perform a one time search for just a few dollars, but if you want more comprehensive results then you may instead choose to buy a month or week long subscription to a website that specializes in background checks.
The main benefit of subscribing to a website to find marriage records online is that you won’t have to worry about paying to perform several searches, which can happen if you are getting the wrong results from each of your searches. Since the cost of subscribing is typically only about ten dollars a month, you don’t have a lot to lose by paying a little more at the beginning of your search, rather than paying a lot by the time you are done.
Can I Verify the Information?
Most of the time, when you find marriage records online, you will also want to make sure that the information that you have found is correct. There are several ways that you can verify the information that you find, and this will be particularly easy if you have some information about the party that you are looking for information on.
Most searches that contain results will also show the government issued identification number and birth date of the person, so as long as you have this information you can simply match it up to make sure that it is correct. If you don’t have this information, then you at least need to know some basic information, such as where the person has lived or their middle name. Any piece of information can be used to find marriage records online, allowing you to find what you need easily.
Reference: uspublicrecordssearch.com
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