2. Introduction and Purpose:
This final project is intended to track how a journalist uses social media for their
work.
I explored how conservative activist journalist James O’Keefe utilized social
media after he leaked three videos (Oct.17-24) in an undercover investigation
in exposing the corruption of the Democratic campaign on voter fraud.
3. Methodology and purpose of study:
● I will understand who James O’Keefe is and what is his mission.
● I will analyze a one week of content on James O’Keefe’s personal Facebook
and Youtube videos posted Oct. 17-24.
● Examine media and public reactions via social media of the first three videos
of O’Keefe’s investigation on exposing voter fraud of the Democratic
campaign.
5. Who is James OKeefe
● James O’Keefe is a conservative investigative journalist and founder of
project veritas a non profit company dedicated to investigating corruption,
dishonesty, waste and fraud in both public and private institutions.
● O’Keefe’s voter fraud exposés inspired several states to reform their election
laws, forced resignations in Washington.
● In 2013, O'Keefe authored New York Times bestseller, Breakthrough: Our
Guerilla War to Expose Fraud and Save Democracy, the recounting of his life
work and the inside story of the trials and tribulations he faced to bring his
powerful new form of guerilla reporting to the forefront.
7. You Tube Video Summary
Youtube - These videos were number one the trending list.
Oct.17
Video One summary-(6,300,007 Views)
This video exposes Democratic operative Scott Foval's dirty tricks on planning voter fraud by any means necessary.
He provides examples and linked connection of Bob Cramer of Democracy Partners who is closely involved in
Hillary's Campaign. This video implies ammunition for violence at the Trump rallies linked to being funded illegally
by the Clinton campaign and DNC through a process known as bird-dogging.
Oct.18
Video Two Summary-(3,804,859 Views )
O'Keefe mentions many Americans wonder why this wasn't getting mainstream media coverage? He states, "The
stories were spiked at the last minute. The truth is dangerous … especially to those in power." Scott Foval was fired
for admitting he would bus people to other states to vote illegally. This video exposes the DNC and the Hillary
Campaign involvement and rigging elections for the last fifty years.
Oct.24
Video Three summary - (2,081,079 Views)
This video exposes the Donald Duck mascot idea (played by Scott Foval) was fabricated by Hillary Clinton. The DNC
founder Bob Creamer stepped down from the campaign after this video was released. O'Keefe states "If it looks like a
duck and talks like a duck and walks like a duck it's probably a duck." "Stay tuned cause there is more to come."
8. Media Reactions
O’ Keefe deliberately by passed top media organizations to make news. O’Keefe’s expose and social dominance approach
was difficult to ignore.
The media wrote and discussed his video series on prime time news, various publications wrote about the content and
validity of the video footage. This video series were covered by ABC News, FOX News, CNN, American Thinker,Daily
Caller, Breitbart, New York Times, Truth Revolt and NPR. Breitbart editors stated the most heavily traffic reported
story there ever had.
The media discredit James O’ Keefe’s and feel he is a progressive radical who is a convicted felon that would go to great
lengths to fulfill his agenda.
The media questioned if the video content was “doctored” to serve O’Keefe’s agenda as a conservative Trump supporter as
it is said he received a $10,000 donation from the Trump campaign.
It has been said many media organizations are afraid because they are publicly traded companies do not want to be
retailed or investigated by the Hillary foundation.
O’Keefe’s way of investigative reporting is the true definition of fact centered discourse during a time where the principle
of neutrality was strong in American journalism especially during an election this is not what we see today.
9. Public Reactions
Joe Armstrong Watching the Liberal Media newscasts and even
reading the papers has become a complete waste of my time. What
ever happened to 2-source verification. Anything less equates to
media bias and false representation. Mainly, the Liberal Media has
failed to honestly critique Democratic candidates at least on an
equal basis as they do Republican candidates. The Liberal media
engages in character assassination and they are doing it to
hundreds of decent people across this country who totally reject
their political beliefs. Not only is the Liberal Media complacent in
character assassination...they are aiding and abetting in it's
conduct. They are a joke and no one should even consider them
news organizations anymore.
Since I disdain everything they stand for, I expect them to
continue on with their assaults on Republican candidates across
the country. If people want to listen to an believe the trash they
spout, then by all means do so. But the Democratic Party
sucks...anyone that is one of them and engaged in character
assassination sucks, and I for one will never vote for even one
Democrat because of it. When they engage in character
assassination using deceit and lies...that is what their subjects are
voting for to represent them in our government.
Like · Reply · October 21 at 12:13pm
Gina Stokes You are called and chosen for this time.
You have protection from above. No weapon formed
against you will prosper. You shall go into the darkness
and bring forth the Light. The Light shall show what has
been hidden from the beginning of time. Now, is the
time for the Light to shine forth. You are chosen to work
together with Trump. He is the voice, you are the eyes.
Show what the darkness is hiding. Let the world SEE !
Like · Reply · October 22 at 4:55am
Lorena Ambrose O'Keefe is a convicted criminal with
a history of doctoring video to advance his ideological
agenda. In the past, O'Keefe and his Project Veritas
Action have been criticized for strategically editing
footage to create false accusations about people or
groups. None of the alleged "schemes" described in the
conversations every took place. Moving on
folks...President Hillary Clinton 2016!!
10. Course Content Aspects
● Fact Centered discourse - In our readings we have discovered the true meaning of news reporting
with commentary. This controversial video series has a impact but many question on if this was true
reporting or if it served the agenda of others.
● Ethics- Many journalist, Media Organizations and citizens question whether the aggressive approach
of guerilla journalism is ethical due to its lack of objectivity.
● Bias - There is a strong sense of bias in the release of these videos that is just as evident as
indifference of the public during the 2016 presidential elections. It is difficult to take a side due to
their strong sense of conviction on either opposing side.
● Technology- The method of delivery was solely on technology journalism via social media to incise
receptivity with the public but mainly with the media organizations who instrumentalize their
stories to be aligned with political parallelism.
11. Summary Analysis
I found there was a lot of receptivity with the media and the public surrounding the launch of these three exposes in
revealing the dirty antics of the Hillary campaign on voter fraud.The method was solely through leaking video content
via social media.
O’ Keefe deliberately by passed top media organizations to make news. O’Keefe’s expose and social dominance approach
was difficult to ignore.
The nature of the social media responses controversial and differ from media organizations versus the public.
The media discredit James O’ Keefe’s and feel he is a progressive radical who is a convicted felon that would go to great
lengths to fulfill his agenda. They questions the ethical integrity of his guerilla journalism investigations.
The public’s response was a bit different many praised his efforts of exposing corruption and call him the modern day
American hero.
The grassroot was very effective in targeting the public and their response to the video content.