Contacting and Dealing with the Media
- It may become necessary to involve the media to put the pressure on a business or organization
who is not taking a situation seriously or is not responding at all. It is also possible that the media
will cover your incident without first being contacted by you. It is your choice on whether or
not you speak to anyone in the media. While it can be a highly effective tool for getting out
the word on a situation, it can also have serious consequences. Media coverage opens you up to
the public eye, which can be both good and bad. This is not a decision to be made lightly.
REMEMBER, Fight OUT Loud will be there to help counsel you on your options and what
to expect if you do find media contact necessary.
If the media comes to you...
- As stated before, it is completely your choice on whether to talk to the media or not. Carefully
consider if you are comfortable speaking publicly about GLBT issues (are you out to your family,
work, friends, etc and will there be negative consequences for you if you speak out). The media
can be very pushy, but it is your right to not say anything to them if you do not feel comfortable.
- If you choose not to speak to the media, be prepared for media reports and stories that may not
include your input or your point of view. They may even misrepresent your point of view.
- If you are uncomfortable speaking to the media for any reason, but still want your point of view
presented, you can always issue statements through a third-party (like Fight OUT Loud) and ask
not be identified by name.
If you go to the media...
- If you are comfortable talking to the media and feel it is necessary to apply pressure to get the
results you want, here a few tips. As stated before, Fight OUT Loud will always be there to guide
and assist you in every way. We will help you find the contacts you need to get your story out
and be heard.
- A great place to start is your local news stations. It can be as easy as sending an email or
contacting them directly by phone to get a reporter on the story.
- Other good resources include your local gay media (newspapers, radio, etc.), who will most
likely be more than happy to help you and get the story out into the public.
- You might also find it helpful to go to GLBT-friendly and progressive blogs and websites to help
tell your story. A few great sites are:
The Daily Kos (Progressive)
Towleroad.com (GLBT)
Pam's House Blend (GLBT)
- Remember, once you start with the media, it can quickly balloon out of control as different
stations and papers vie to get "the scoop". Make sure you have a set of talking points and a
clear and concise message you want to get across before you start talking to the media.
You have to frame the story how you want it told. It cannot be stressed enough how important it
is that you know exactly what you want to say and get across to the public.
- Another important note: When you are thinking of doing an interview with a particular tv
station, radio show, or paper, ALWAYS look into that station to see what their motives might be.
Some Networks (FOXNews, for example) and conservative radio shows have only one goal: to get
you on their show to discredit, ambush, and humiliate you. Fight OUT Loud will again help in
researching the outlets that you are thinking of speaking to.
Control how your story is told...
- If you are at all unhappy with how a particular news outlet is reporting your story, tell them! Call
the editors, producers, etc. and tell them exactly what you think is wrong with their story and how
best to fix it. Remember, media coverage can have good and bad consequences, so it is very
important to hold news outlets accountable for their reporting. As with any problem you face,
Fight OUT Loud will be there to assist you. We will also contact our members and issue EMAIL
ACTION ALERTS if we feel more pressure is necessary. If dealing with the media, move on to the
next step of dealing with negative backlash and personal security.
- It may become necessary to involve the media to put the pressure on a business or organization
who is not taking a situation seriously or is not responding at all. It is also possible that the media
will cover your incident without first being contacted by you. It is your choice on whether or
not you speak to anyone in the media. While it can be a highly effective tool for getting out
the word on a situation, it can also have serious consequences. Media coverage opens you up to
the public eye, which can be both good and bad. This is not a decision to be made lightly.
REMEMBER, Fight OUT Loud will be there to help counsel you on your options and what
to expect if you do find media contact necessary.
If the media comes to you...
- As stated before, it is completely your choice on whether to talk to the media or not. Carefully
consider if you are comfortable speaking publicly about GLBT issues (are you out to your family,
work, friends, etc and will there be negative consequences for you if you speak out). The media
can be very pushy, but it is your right to not say anything to them if you do not feel comfortable.
- If you choose not to speak to the media, be prepared for media reports and stories that may not
include your input or your point of view. They may even misrepresent your point of view.
- If you are uncomfortable speaking to the media for any reason, but still want your point of view
presented, you can always issue statements through a third-party (like Fight OUT Loud) and ask
not be identified by name.
If you go to the media...
- If you are comfortable talking to the media and feel it is necessary to apply pressure to get the
results you want, here a few tips. As stated before, Fight OUT Loud will always be there to guide
and assist you in every way. We will help you find the contacts you need to get your story out
and be heard.
- A great place to start is your local news stations. It can be as easy as sending an email or
contacting them directly by phone to get a reporter on the story.
- Other good resources include your local gay media (newspapers, radio, etc.), who will most
likely be more than happy to help you and get the story out into the public.
- You might also find it helpful to go to GLBT-friendly and progressive blogs and websites to help
tell your story. A few great sites are:
The Daily Kos (Progressive)
Towleroad.com (GLBT)
Pam's House Blend (GLBT)
- Remember, once you start with the media, it can quickly balloon out of control as different
stations and papers vie to get "the scoop". Make sure you have a set of talking points and a
clear and concise message you want to get across before you start talking to the media.
You have to frame the story how you want it told. It cannot be stressed enough how important it
is that you know exactly what you want to say and get across to the public.
- Another important note: When you are thinking of doing an interview with a particular tv
station, radio show, or paper, ALWAYS look into that station to see what their motives might be.
Some Networks (FOXNews, for example) and conservative radio shows have only one goal: to get
you on their show to discredit, ambush, and humiliate you. Fight OUT Loud will again help in
researching the outlets that you are thinking of speaking to.
Control how your story is told...
- If you are at all unhappy with how a particular news outlet is reporting your story, tell them! Call
the editors, producers, etc. and tell them exactly what you think is wrong with their story and how
best to fix it. Remember, media coverage can have good and bad consequences, so it is very
important to hold news outlets accountable for their reporting. As with any problem you face,
Fight OUT Loud will be there to assist you. We will also contact our members and issue EMAIL
ACTION ALERTS if we feel more pressure is necessary. If dealing with the media, move on to the
next step of dealing with negative backlash and personal security.
| Dealing with the Media |
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