REVEALED: ACORN, NBC Worked Together in ‘Undercover Video Sting’
by PubliusSince the undercover ACORN videos from James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles first broke, the grand pooh-bahs of journalism have gone into self-absorbed philosopher mode. Rather than report on the ACORN corruption playing out before our eyes, “journalists” have tsk-tsked their way through thousands of words and yards of column inches making certain that everyone understands that what James and Hannah did IS…NOT…JOURNALISM. (As if that is the existential question to make sense of the ACORN videos.) Undercover videos and assuming fake identities are things real journalists do not do…except when they do.
Below is a page from ACORN’s 2005 Annual Report. In it, they tell the story of how one of their employees teamed up with NBC Dateline to do a ‘video sting’ on tax-preparer Jackson Hewitt.
Pages from 2005-ACORN-Annual-Report-web -
Somehow we missed the missives from the Columbia Journalism Review condemning NBC for staining journalism. We also can’t find James Rainey’s cliche-riddled scolding of NBC for taking part in ACORN’s intentional deception. We can’t imagine the journalism mandarins would approve of such tactics only because they approved of the target. Surely, the criticism of NBC must be out there. If our readers find any links to these critiques, please include them in the comments.
For greater context on the long history of hidden-camera videos and other forms of aggressive investigative journalism, see Michael Walsh’s piece here.
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137 Comments
Now that's funny….. Dam you guys are good!!!!
Too bad most of America has it's head in the sand….
Separated at birth Hypo meets his long lost twin Crites
[...] the rest of the article at : Big Government Tags: Acorn, Pimp My Acorn Share this [...]
ACORN and NBC working in concert to do a video sting of Jackson Hewitt? TSK, TSK!
bust there chops…keep doing it, don't stop, don't stop!
The only reason I know about this case is because it was taught and discussed extensively in the one journalism class I took. where it was presented as a "classic" case of sting-operation reporting and a valid method of gathering information. Which says to me that all these sudden cries of "It Was Not Journalism" to sound hollow and shrill.
" We can’t imagine the journalism mandarins would approve of such tactics only because they approved of the target".
The journalism mandarins have subsequent to this latest ACORN extravaganza turned into mannequins, or more appropriately, when casting a backward glance have been turned into the proverbial Pillars of Salt.
Sure hope you aren't holding your breath waiting for us to find the criticisms.
How many fact checkers has have the mainstream media assigned to this report?
Too awesome!
Great work to uncover this example of (unsurprising) hypocrisy. Truly great work!
We need to press these rotten, lying b*st*rds on what they claim as their "journalistic principles" at every opportunity. This proves, without any doubt whatever, that their disdain for Giles and O'Keefe's work had nothing to do with methods and everything to do with target.
HA! You beat em at their own game! Do it again and again and again…..
I wonder how "coincidental" it was that the little boy "ran" out in front of a car as his mother was being interviewed. Yeah, I bet that wasn't staged at all……..(exploding truck, anyone?)
It's too bad that the folks getting "free" help from ACORN don't know how to read the tax booklets – they can submit their information to the IRS, and they will complete the return free of charge, as well.
OK, one last post on The Mirage Tavern, and I'll quit talking about it.
Seems the Society of Professional Journalists didn't seem to have a problem with the sting:
http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=613
I really don't see any difference between what O'Keefe, Giles, and Breitbart have done, and what those Sun-Times reporters did all those years ago.
NBC is not news network anymore. Sorry, but it's not journalism because these NBC people aren't journalists anymore. They are just state controlled media wonks as Rush says..
You missed the point. ACORN gives tax assistance meaning how to scam the tax system.
Most of us think tax assistance is help in preparing a complete tax return.
Too bad it wasn't Christina Talarczyk who "accidentally" stepped into traffic. . .
This is nothing new that there were sweetheart deals made between the Media and ACORN. Look at those that work for these networks and most of them also work with ACORN. A video was discovered last week on http://www.americanparchment.com where Roseanne Barr was defending ACORN and Obama and saying that these videos are a disgrace. Most of these media outlets aren't about reporting the truth they are just like politicians trying to make constituents and donors happy.
All of them………
the only surprise here is that anyone is REALLY surprised by this…
IIt's the old Left wing playbook; attack, deny, obfuscate, and then attack those who respond. Tired, really, and not all that effective.
At least not anymore thanks to, amongst others, Big Government.
Keep the faith, baby…
in the sand, or up their a–?
When "little red books" are distributed to the 'masses" NBC/GE will have full page ads in them.
classic!
"…moved from Minnesota to San Antonio"
Looks like our Northern border needs some fencing, too.
Another "do as I say, not as I do" moment.
Don't you remeber that liberals don't think they have to follow the rules they set up for others? And remember that they feel it is fair to be harder on people who have high standards and fail to meet them than those who have low or no standards and live down to them?
I'm curious as to what NBC would call their "To Catch a Predator" series.
This should not surprise anyone. The Main Stream "Media" is anything but an outlet for "News" (This does include Fox) These "News" reporters are nothing more than cheerleaders for which ever ideology they wish to promote.
I truly wonder how the Land of the Free came to have a major tenant prostitute itself so.
NBC is the propoganda arm of this administration (as is their main office… GE). They did everything to get Obama elected and they will do anything to keep him in office.
ACORN/SEIU also helped him get into office. We are going to have to figure out a way to neutralize ALL of them in future elections as Obama's administration will not do anything to prosecute ACORN. They will not bite the hand that feeds them!
marxist dicktator president
I think the term "Insurgents" is more accurate.
NBC IS SO IN THE TANK FOR ANYTHING LEFT WING. THEY ARE TAINTED GOODS.
NBC is a joke!
Now that Obama owns GM, I guess NBC will start blowing-up Toyotas and Fords instead of GMC/Chevy trucks.
Obama's pet peacock, NBC, involved in undercover videos and assuming fake identities? tsk. tsk. tsk – LMAO,
Isn't it ironic? Don't you think? A little too ironic.
Great job biggov. keep up the good work
I refer to Walsh's blog from today, why ask a journalist? I'd rather hear from a reporter. Personal bias gets checked at the door when you take a story.
Wasn't it NBC that had that Dateline series where they lured in pedophiles? Didn't it end when one of their targets shot himself in the head.
Well, I think it's just fine…..What's good for the goose is good for the gander…….or if you bend over too far, the "gooser"…watch out for Bawdy Bawney Fwank!!!
The problem is that anyone would think NBC has any journalistic integrity. They are an extreme leftist organization and they are NOT journalists. Just ask GM. They have been faking the news for a long time and even before that they were faking game shows. I for one just refuse to watch any NBC programming and tell as many people as possible.
Sooooo, when are ya'll going to go after SEIU??? After all, they are an arm of acorn…
[...] now: ACORN and NBC collaborated together on an undercover sting [...]
keep up the good work in point out the double standard, hypocracy and massive conspiracy currently unerway in our country…its important to let everyone know of the academic/media complex that is trying to take over and control our country….the democrats use them as a huge advantage …but looking at their recent lack of success in winning elections over the decades …people are smart enough to connect the dots once the information is out there …simply put …do we want the criminals, misfits, undesireable running our lives or the hardworking citizens who believe in America…given the choice most erasonable people D or R will chose the latter
Awesome. Got to love the hypocrisy there. The issue with journalists is that they think they are entitled to special rights or hold some kind of special position in society above the rest of us. They can do anything in the name of journalism and it is OK in their mind. The sanctimony is palpable. Add to it that they don't even do their job because they are blinded by their own ideology. I'll believe news rooms are balanced when the political makeup of the journalists within the room matches the political makeup of the country.
and one more thing….the Democrats are desperately trying to cover this up and make it go away because they are in bed with ACORN and its criminal activity
Wait.. How would any of the major news netorks (other than FOX) have a clue what real journalism is???
the medical term is cranio-rectal inversion
They're all too busy with Palin's book
"Huckabee".
Is that why Obama bows so low?
Its pretty clear that NBC has become the State run media
Keep your heel on the neck of the MSM, never let up…and when they cry "Uncle" put a boot to their head, maybe you'll knock some sense into them.
We should rename NBC to the News 'Bama Creates network!
I guess ABC is All 'Bama Chat and CBS is Central Bama Strategy.
Lastly you have Fox which is Freedom Only X!
I always thought it was "Rectal-Cranial Inversion", or RCI, occasionally with the S for Syndrome appended. I suppose either conveys the point:)
left wing radicals lame stream media , i wonder if they really believe what spews out of their twisted mouths.
[...] know about this… I thought this kind of journalism wasn’t journalism; at least so we were told… Since the undercover ACORN videos from James O’Keefe and Hannah [...]
to say most of American has their head in the sand is the understatement of the year. But they can tell you who won American Idol and lots of other stuff that matters no hill of beans….
to call a hypocrit a hypocrit is redundant…they is what they is
[...] [...]
you may not be aware of all this stuff, b ut European news agencies report onit big time…..they as a group of news junkies are much more clued in about how much of a complete scam Obama and Congress have been….the only reason out country is so corrupt is becuase we can actually still afford it ….what we need is a total collapse and a major Depression and it will end in a flash…..it's coming in 12 months.
Democracy, capitalism work when we speak with our wallets, demand accountability. Patronize none of the spinners and cheerleaders, including PBS – recall any poltico who lies; see how fast they all disappear.
Once again the hypocrisy of the MSM is exposed. What fun!
all those not on the climate change fiasco
their orders are to pooh pooh the Real American's facts and cover for the obozonuts – typical msm non-bias
It's too bad that almost 8 million brain dead Americans tune in to the NBC nightly news (using the term loosely) every day.
Let's see… GE is a major player in alternative energy technology; particularly wind power. Anybody think there is a little too much coincidence with the alternative energy efforts of the Obama administration?
As for Acorn preparing taxe returns "for free", since when doesn't the grant funding supplied to them count as a cost? I guess when it's taxpayer's money, it doesn't count. At least that's the way all those waddling up to the public trough have looked at it for decades. Well guess what y'all…the bill is coming due.
[...] [...]
I don't get it; why don't we evil, rich Conservatives just buy out all these media idiots, fire the biased, corrupt editorial staff and reporters, and start afresh…
Hehehe.
NBC= Nothing But Crap
Going undercover to expose lies is the job of the media. That's how 60minutes got its start.
Last time I checked, charging a fee for preparing income tax is not illegal, yet loaning money for a prosititution business including assisting in the prostitution of illegal underaged girls is pretty much punishable under our laws. Wonder if Jerry Brown would prosecute NBC or Acorn for illegal filming and fraud. Of course. Liberals all break the law and are entitled to do so…Otherwise, if you call attention to it…you are just RACIST.
Seems Christina Talarczyk has been involved with ACORN for awhile. Her parents must be so proud <sarc> https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/827...
NBC, CBS, CNN, MSM, ACORN, ABC, ETC – it's all a bad bowl of alphabet soup that needs to go down the drain…
You ain't wrong and you sure as HELL ain't lyin'!
The fate and prosperity of our kids, grandkids and unborn great-grandkids is being decided by these hooligans on the left. We must get them out of there.
Anyone who fails to become informed, or, as you aptly said, opts for the mindless entertainment of American Idol over substantive ideas, deserves what they and their descendants will get.
However, the rest of us, who took the time to know the creature and fight it, will be just as bad off as everyone else, including the lazy posers.
Thank you for replying. You are so very correct.
Hypocrisy – See —> Democrats, ACORN, SEIU, NBC, MSNBC, GE, Letterman, Newsweek, Time, Al Gore…"damn the facts full steam ahead!". Four legs good, two legs better.
Time the public became "mad as hell and refused to take it anymore!"
Any coincidence now that Acorn is being neutered polls predict a conservative landslide 2010?
They always stop. I'm so sick of being in the party of "the bigger man". I wish they would just keep rubbing their nose in it until I hear people concede to the truth. I don't care how underhanded and negative people think it is. Fox should be beating this and the global warming drum just like everyone beat the health care drum. IMHO
Very good comment. BigGovernment is my bread and butter.
ACORN = Fatherless welfare garbage.
Questions?
We all got ACORNed!
http://www.RightWingInc.com
Anti Obama Stuff
Listen to right wing commentators. Read right-wing books. Log onto right-wing websites.
Listen to nothing else.
Read nothing else
Log onto nothing else.
Believe in nothing else.
The "intelligent" conservatives at work………………..
I have a video of 2 Libtards given a choice of saying America is the best country in the world or eatting a bag of vomit, they went for the vomit.
Criticism of NBC?
…crickets…
Getting caught with your pants down means nothing to an exhibitionist.
So what’s new?
Entrenched academia in any given field … themselves more likely than not without exposure to any marketplace … have always considered themselves arbiters of propriety/legality in those marketplaces. How else to maintain their source(s) of livelihood?
Hey, if you’re academia’s crosshairs, you must be doing something right.
Now you all know that Obama work for ACORN….I wonder just how dirty he really is.
It looks like the date of this story is January of 1978. It's strange that you have to go so far back in time for actual reporting on this type corruption…
and so it should be- if you want some honesty…
TALK ABOUT TURNING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE THIS TAKES THE CAKE.
There is absolutely nothing new about newspapers being biased. From the time that America was just a bunch of colonies, almost all newspapers and broadsheets proudly proclaimed which side they were on and people bought/read the papers that reflected their own views. This was even more rampant, in the early years of this nation.
The idea that papers and then, by extension, radio news, was "unbiased", is a relatively recent thing; about 50 years old, or a tad older.
How is is that the left can have a taxpayer funded org. like ACORN, to promote their political agenda and help get their people elected and this is allowed to continue? Where does the money trail end for ACORN? Where are they funneling money into? Its all got to come down to money. Who are the private contributors to ACORN? Enquiring minds want to know.
this country is so screwed…
VOTE ALL THE POLITICIANS OUT OF OFFICE… its our only hope…
Palins book is selling better than Hillary Clinton's book.
The surprising part is… I'm not surprised!
Just like every Politician… It's ok for us, but not for you! …Like not paying taxes, like not living within a budget… you get the picture!
Please tell us where we are suppose to get the truth then? NYTimes? CNN? Wash D.C.??
This should be filed in the same folder as "New York Times Deplores Theft of Global Warming Emails: How Dare Anybody Publish Something That Wasn't Properly Obtained?!"
I smell real hope for this country and maybe even some change! And it isn't coming from "The One in Washington". Great job in exposing these liars!
The interesting thing about that is when you read and listen to someone who proudly and gladly proclaims what side they are coming from, you KNOW where their comment are also coming from. But also, those Conservative talk shows, writers and websites that the left are SO afraid of – show exactly what facts are out there and HOW they form their views on what they say and type.
Today, as with the last few decades, you can actually find out more about any news source by what they DON'T report more than what they report.
[...] Read More: by Publius, Big Government [...]
Gee, what a surprise! NBC, led by that Communist Immelt, involved in shady goings on. He, the illegal Kenyan Muslim Marxist racist usurper squatting in OUR White House, and their Commie comrades in Congress should ALL be brought up on charges of high treason and SHOT!
Don't be surprised if a coup of some kind takes place before the Kenyan Commie's term is up.
Media hypocrisy. It's gotten so it is no longer a surprise. It would be more of a story if journalists demonstrated intellectual honesty.
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