The media

Journalists follow an established set of principles and practices that may conflict with your purpose in sharing your story. Journalism is bound by legal restrictions, but journalists are also bound by their media outlet’s policies. Sometimes journalists can’t publish something because of their organisation’s legal advice, or because of what their editor or managing editor decides.

Journalism can be published in several formats: broadcast (TV, radio, podcasts, online videos), online (articles, videos, online radio) and print (newspapers, magazines). Ask yourself which one you might feel safer or more confident with: 

• Print media or pre-recorded interviews are good for when you are starting out.
• Live-to-air TV or radio interviews are suggested for those who are more experienced with media.

… if we can demystify each community for each other - what motivates them, what their concerns are, what pressures they’re under - the more they understand about each other, the more productive that relationship is going to be and the less stress for everybody. 

(Nina Funnell, journalist, #LetHerSpeak founder and survivor advocate)

How journalism works

The primary role of a journalist is to report on a story. Journalism is a time-driven and competitive industry and how your final story looks may not be what you expect.

• A key principle in journalism is public interest and a strong reason for why a story is told. If a story is in the public interest, it means that it is information that the public needs to know. This is different to “interesting to the public” (for example gossip or celebrity news). 
• There are different forms of journalism you may encounter:
  • Court reporting: covering the court rounds. This form has very strict legal restrictions. It can be presented via newspapers, online, radio or TV.
  • Daily reporting: also known as “hard news” reports facts about a news story with little emotion or background. This is the routine news and can take the form of print, radio, TV or online.
  • Feature reporting: a form that gives more context to a story. This type can include background, analysis and emotion, all based in a factual account. Feature articles are not part of the daily news but will report on current events with more depth and can be published in newspapers, magazines and online.
  • Investigative journalism: a deep investigation of an issue often taking months or years and typically a longer form of journalism. This can be in newspapers, magazines and online, or broadcast via television or podcast.
• Sometimes journalists ask people for comment on a story they are doing on another case. Keep in mind that you are not obligated to comment if you don’t want to, but you can also ask how the comment will be used.
• The “news cycle” means when something is published. A story may come out the next day or the next week, depending on the publication and what other news is happening. Ask the journalist when your story is due to come out but be aware that this can change. 
• Any images that are used in your story can be used in future stories.
• Journalists are not obligated to give you a copy of the final story, but there is no harm in asking. They may choose to share a copy.

I guess I’m at a point in my recovery and my work with SAMSN where I think, who cares what I look like, what I sound like, so my confidence is gaining over time. Anything live is still scary, live radio or TV is like oh, full-on. So there are gradients, and I think that in terms of my experience, I’d want to impart to somebody else, you might just want to start out small. Do a pre-record. Yeah, don’t go for the big TV interview upfront. 

(Craig Hughes-Cashmore, CEO, Survivors & Mates Support Network)

How the media might approach your story

When victims and survivors approach the media, their stories are not always told. This is not because the journalist doesn’t want to or doesn’t believe you, or that your story isn’t important. 

There are many reasons a story may not be told, including legal limitations and internal policies.

• If you tell your whole story to a journalist, it may not all be shown or published. Your story might not suit their angle, or they may only include a soundbite or single line. Always ask the journalist how they will be using your interview or comment.
• “Right of reply” and checking facts of a story are key principles of journalistic practice. This means that others may be interviewed for their perspective and for fact-checking including family, friends, co-workers, neighbours or the perpetrator. This is not because you are not believed.
• The journalist interviewing you and writing the story will not have the final say in how the story is written or what headline or images will be used. This is the role of others in the newsroom such as editors, news editors, sub-editors and managers and they may choose a different heading and/or a different angle than you expect.

…if you’re dealing with someone over a long period and they’re very vulnerable, you really do care for them, or I care for them. But you’re not, you know, you’re not their friend. You’re not their counsellor. You cannot be their primary support. Because you’re actually not equipped to do it. It’s not just that it’s not my job – I don’t have the tools to provide that support in a way that is constructive or beneficial in the long-term. 

(Journalist)