Resources to support engaging with the media

"Most New Zealanders get their information and understanding about family violence from the media. The media is a powerful influencer and shaper of public attitudes." - It's Not OK Campaign, 'Speak Up: Use the Media to Prevent Family Violence'.

Below are some resources to support people working in family and sexual violence to engage with the media effectively:

The media manual Speak Up: Use the Media to Prevent Family Violence by the It's Not OK Campaign. This provides useful, practical tips and resources for community agencies. The manual covers:

• Why Use the Media?
• Developing Key Messages
• Know Your News Outlets
• Local Media Contacts
• What is News?
• How to Get into the News
• Writing a Press Release
• Writing a Letter to the Editor
• Dos and Don'ts
• Tips for Surviving a Media Interview
• Recent Statistics

A powerpoint on Working with the media and developing key messages around sexual violence, by the It's Not OK Campaign team at the Imagining the Solution conference 2013.

An analysis of 6 months of print media reporting of sexual violence in 2012: Reporting Sexual Violence in Aotearoa New Zealand, Tauiwi Prevention Project, TOAH-NNEST.

A Media Sexual Violence Fact Sheet Reporting Sexual Violence: Recommendations to Journalists, Tauiwi Prevention Project, TOAH-NNEST.

A video clip of the presentation Using the Media to Change the World by Sandra Dickson, Tauiwi Prevention Project, TOAH-NNEST at the Imagining the Solution conference 2013.

A recent US National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women (VAWnet.org) blog provides resources and materials to facilitate advocates working with the media. It includes developing skills such taking control of an interview and utilising each question as an opportunity to deliver the message you want to convey.

Prevent Connect, a US national online project dedicated to the primary prevention of sexual assault and domestic violence, provide a two-part video podcast of Making your message count: Applying the strategies & tactics of advertising to sexual violence prevention. Part One discusses the importance of a good objective and clear strategy and Part Two discusses creative concepting and following through on campaigns.

US-based WITNESS has produced a video series on how to conduct interviews with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

For recent New Zealand data on family and sexual violence, the Clearinghouse published a one page Data summaries snapshot in June 2013. Full Data Summaries are also available.

If you're speaking to the media and would like information on a particular topic, you're always welcome to contact the Clearinghouse for assistance.