Information for family and friends

Speaking to the media

You may be asked to speak to the media about, or on behalf of, a victim and survivor. After checking that you are able to speak on behalf of the victim and survivor, you may take part in an interview, front a press conference, or read out a statement with the victim and survivor by your side.

Here are some extra considerations to help you with talking to the media.

• Remember you are sharing someone else’s story. Where possible, seek their permission before engaging with the media.
• Speaking with media may impact on your relationship. Where possible, talk this over with the victim and survivor.
• Seek support and guidance for yourself if you need to.
• Understand how journalism and the media works.

Interviewing

Here is some extra guidance that will help you if you are a family member or friend of a victim and survivor.

Before the interview

Preparation is key.

• Liaise with the victim and survivor if possible to ensure they are comfortable with what you are going to make public.
• Be clear about why you are doing an interview.
• Identify key messages (2-3) that you or the victim and survivor would like to bring up during the interview.

During the interview

You control what you say to the media.

• If you can, tell the journalist how the victim and survivor would like to be described. Also make clear if and how you would like to be identified (e.g., pseudonym, anonymous, name, relationship, etc.).

After the interview

• Ensure you are safe and have a support person if you need one.
• Make sure the victim and survivor has a list of available supports.
• Talk with the victim and survivor and let them know how the interview went.

"Contemplate the message you want to convey and the words you will use to respond. Then stick to that 100%. Do not be diverted - no matter what! Consider having an advocate to help you."

(Hetty Johnston AM, Founder, Bravehearts)

Would you like to be an advocate for other victims and survivors?

Often service providers and other child sexual abuse support workers find themselves in the position where they act as intermediaries and advocates on behalf of victims and survivors in their interactions with the media. Victims and survivors may also like to become advocates. 

While there is currently no specific guidance on how to become an advocate for child sexual abuse victims and survivors, if you would like to take on this important role, you can contact the support groups noted at the end of this guide and enquire. Some of the skills you may need include:

• How to provide support and counselling.
• An understanding of how the media works.
• High communication skills both with victims and survivors and media.
• Strong public speaking ability.
• An ability to build relationships with those who have experienced child sexual abuse and their families.

"It can be really challenging to be put on the spot and articulate the grief and the trauma you're feeling, whilst in the depths of despair; essentially, in re-traumatisation. I think that is the nerve-wracking thing when doing media. As a family we walk away from an interview and someone would ask us, how do you think it went? And we would have no idea, we couldn’t remember what we had said, or even what questions we were asked only moments after the interview - that's a big feeling. We would sit down to watch the news or to read the newspaper and feel incredibly anxious because we had no recollection of what we had said during the interview. It was another feeling of losing a sense of control and worrying if we had done Zoe justice when speaking to journalists."

(Amanda Duncan, Founder of The Two Sisters Campaign)