Media-Based Personal Background Searches

Media searches are among a wide variety of background screening tools designed to help you paint a more accurate picture of the individual who may soon join your workforce. Media-based personal background searches can compliment your background screening efforts by providing information about incidents or investigations that may not be reflected in official records. Has the individual written a scathing letter to the editor? Has the individual been unfavorably portrayed in the news? How does your applicant behave on Facebook?

Best Practices of Media Searches:

Media searches must be conducted with care by qualified professionals who understand the media search compliance environment. Violating FCRA regulations or the terms of use for various social media websites can bring trouble to any employer. Hiring managers should be advised to never conduct an ad hoc media search without the oversight or clear direction from a screening expert. Even better, outsource your media searches to a Consumer Reporting Agency like Proforma.

Probably the most important consideration in pre employment background screening is to maintain a holistic approach to assessing your candidate’s background. Look at the sum total of a person’s background to create a picture of that person, rather than taking one incident or one aspect and jumping to conclusions. Nowhere is this more important than in media searches. With a media search you can seldom know for sure that what you see or read is true. For this reason, media searches should never be used without additional information.

Remember also that any consumer report, including a media search, is subject to FCRA regulations and FCRA compliance fulfillment surrounding pre-adverse and adverse action notifications.

Limitations of Media Searches:

The single most important limitation of a media search is the inability to distinguish truths from rumors, lies, accusations, or misinformation. Since what the media reports or what you see in an internet search may not be entirely accurate, or worse, may be entirely false, media searches should be undertaken with a grain of salt. Even with these limitations, the information you gather in a media search can be extremely useful in guiding further background explorations.

Typical Turnaround Time:

98% within 48 hours

List Price:

Starting at $55.00

Get Started:

NOTE: List price represents our standard pricing. Please contact us to build a custom package with discounted pricing for your business. Request a Custom Proposal

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