Does anyone here know how to deal with the press?

FatVonD

You could approach it from the other angle and get yourself an exclusivity deal with one newspaper and let them get the others off your back.

namecheck

heretolearn wrote: »

Hi

Sounds like a nasty situation, good luck with it all.

I can give you a little bit of advice on the press side. Without knowing all the details then hard to say exactly how interesting you will be to them, but here's a few tips for you.

You are under no obligation to speak to anyone you don't want to. Reporters can be very persuasive though, and are good at, well, not quite tricking people into talking, but in getting someone who didn't intend to say anything to slip stuff out.

It's easiest to have a prepared phrase in mind and use it as a constant and unvarying response to all questions/enquiries. Or you can just blank them, but a lot of people find that difficult as they feel 'rude'. So rehearse saying 'I'm not commenting or issuing any statement' until you can say it in your sleep, and use that to reply to phone calls/reporters at door/in street. Follow it with 'goodbye' and put the phone down/shut the door/walk off. End of conversation. Don't get into anything other than that. Ignore anything else they say. No answering a response from them on why you don't want to talk to them etc.

You can be photographed in a public place, it's up to you whether you want to cooperate or not though, you can stick your head down and keep moving if you like. Try not to look angry/annoyed though as pics like that can be twisted, or even smiling depending on the circumstances. If ever you need a poker face, try it now. Neutral. If you do agree to stop for a photo and they ask you to move to a certain spot, turn round and look at what is behind you. Make sure there's nothing in the background (another person/poster/grafitti/shop/whatever) that is somehow going to create an impression in the photo. i.e. don't let yourself be posed in front of grafitti that says 'drugs are great!' or 'kill all coppers'. Think about why they may have wanted you in that exact spot.

I would practise the poker face and not speak AT ALL.

Unless you are used to dealing with this sort of situation (and you say you are not), it could be very easy to be caught off your guard and say something. And your facial expression would also change, whether you gave just the "no comment", or found yourself saying something else. This would give the press more opportunities for photos.

I would also take someone you trust with you and/or arrange to be collected by car as soon as you leave.

publicityshy

Thank you all. I will contact Victim Support as soon as I'm able to get somewhere private. It sounds like they are the experts. I think the police may have mentioned them initially, but I was all over the place at the time, so who knows?

PasturesNew - that's the thought I'm keeping in my head already about tomorrow's chip papers! Also the police have said it's strange how the wind blows on things like this - sometimes a case gets publicity when they didn't expect it, and sometimes it goes completely under the radar when they were expecting more interest. I'm obviously hoping for the latter, but trying to prepare for the former.

RAS - I have to assume the press have a photo of me. Although my Facebook has always had good privacy & is now extremely well hidden, I initially didn't hide my profile pics. Just didn't occur to me.

GlynD - I'm in England. Am I seriously allowed to ask to not be named, even though I would be mentioned in court? I'd kind of assumed that anything said in court was therefore in the public arena & fair game.

FatVonD - thanks, but no. I really don't want to talk about it!

Thanks all, I'm already feeling a bit more reassured. I'm not saying when the case is (it's a bit away), but I will try to remember to come back afterwards & let you know how it went. In the meantime, any more suggestions or experiences to share would be welcome

Welshwoofs

Honestly, I think you'd be wasting money seeing a solicitor.

I've had to deal with press contacts in the course of my work and from those experiences I learnt that:

- Lock down any social media to only your friends list and for god's sake don't mention anything related to it anywhere on social media
- If you get any odd emails talking about happened, just bin them, don't bother replying
- If you get any phone calls simply say "I don't wish to comment" and hang-up...don't hang around on the phone being polite because they've not gone away...they're looking for a foot in the door.
- If you get asked questions by people you know who know you were involved don't answer them. If the hacks can't get to you, they'll try and get to people who know you and see if they can get info via them.

londonsurrey

Last resort - when I was cornered by the press, about a story that they were going to print anyhow, my friend-!!!-advocate emphasised bits she wanted them to stick with, clearly and repeatedly corrected bits that were slanted the wrong way, and very markedly took down names and details, making it clear to them that she could find them again. This can only be pulled of by someone who knows how to be menacing without actually saying anything much!

GlynD

publicityshy wrote: »

Thank you all. I will contact Victim Support as soon as I'm able to get somewhere private. It sounds like they are the experts. I think the police may have mentioned them initially, but I was all over the place at the time, so who knows?

PasturesNew - that's the thought I'm keeping in my head already about tomorrow's chip papers! Also the police have said it's strange how the wind blows on things like this - sometimes a case gets publicity when they didn't expect it, and sometimes it goes completely under the radar when they were expecting more interest. I'm obviously hoping for the latter, but trying to prepare for the former.

RAS - I have to assume the press have a photo of me. Although my Facebook has always had good privacy & is now extremely well hidden, I initially didn't hide my profile pics. Just didn't occur to me.

GlynD - I'm in England. Am I seriously allowed to ask to not be named, even though I would be mentioned in court? I'd kind of assumed that anything said in court was therefore in the public arena & fair game.

FatVonD - thanks, but no. I really don't want to talk about it!

Thanks all, I'm already feeling a bit more reassured. I'm not saying when the case is (it's a bit away), but I will try to remember to come back afterwards & let you know how it went. In the meantime, any more suggestions or experiences to share would be welcome

Only the judge can make an order that you don't be named. You could ask for that. You'll have to be a bit more county specific if you want someone here to recommend a lawyer.

heretolearn_2

I don't know why people are saying you can sue the paper if they name you. Victims/witness identities are protected only in very specific circumstances, such as being a minor, or being the victim of a sex crime, or a witness who will be in danger if identified.

Here's some guidance on it:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/v_to_z/witness_protection_and_anonymity/

pollypenny

I would not attend the sentencing. Press photographers can be very sneaky and catch you from a distance.

Unfortunately, newspapers last - thanks to Google!

DVardysShadow

pollypenny wrote: »

I would not attend the sentencing. Press photographers can be very sneaky and catch you from a distance.

Unfortunately, newspapers last - thanks to Google!

I agree. As a witness there is a certain amount of protection under contempt of court and maybe - I am not sure on this point - the media may be less likely to be photographing and seeking comment on the way to and from court simply to avoid allegations of harassing a witness.

But if you have decided to turn up for sentencing [which is a bit presumptuous before a verdict has been given], I would say you will probably be fair game for any tactic which the media can think of, because you will not be wearing your hat as witness.

cathryn107

The Press Complaints Commission have a helpline specifically for normal members of the public who have been caught up in media events.

http://www.pcc.org.uk/contact/index.html

Have a chat with them. I think that if you are determined not to speak they can ask papers to leave you alone.