A News Media Guide for Victim Service Providers

• NCJ Number: 236256
• Author(s): Anne Seymour; Bonnie Bucqueroux
• Date Published: September 2009
• Length: 137 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2002-VF-GX-K013
• Agencies: OVC-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Handbook

Annotation

This guide on news coverage of crime provides information for the development of customized curriculum for training on an agency, organization, or program-wide basis.

Abstract

This guide is one of a series of guides created under the National Public Awareness and Education Campaign project to educate service providers, journalists, allied professionals, and crime victims about issues concerning news coverage of crime with a focus on coverage of crime victims. It can be used by victim service providers and allied professionals as a reference to guide them in their interactions and dealings with the media. Two sections are featured: section 1 addresses how victim advocates can facilitate sensitive and respectful treatment of crime victims by the news media, effectively advocate for victims in the media, and serve as their liaisons to media professionals; section 2 is designed to help victim assistance organizations build positive relations with the news media. Topics include: crime victims and public awareness, impact on your organization, educating the media, ethics, how impact of coverage can affect victims, types of news stories, major concerns of coverage, impact on victims of specific crimes, cultural competency, victim privacy versus media, the role of victim service providers, victim referrals to the media, tips for crime victims and survivors, types of media, organization communication, guidelines for media interviews, press releases, editors' advisories, public service announcements, letters to the editor, Internet strategies, talk shows, media plans, and editorial boards. Endnotes and appendixes