Your Rights with Reporters

Before an interview, you have the right to:

• say no to an interview request
• say no to an exclusive interview
• say yes to some requests and no to others – depending on your stress and comfort levels
• to release a written statement in lieu of an interview
• discuss, with the reporter or producer, certain areas of the issue or story that you are not comfortable talking about
• to ask that graphic photographs or other visual materials be withheld from the story
• request a neutral location and time for an interview (i.e. it may feel more comfortable to do a studio interview than to have a crew in your home or at a place of grieving)
• ask the producer or reporter who else will be interviewed for the story
• ask the reporter in advance what questions will be asked during the interview
• tell the reporter or producer that you have an important message to be heard and request that they give you the opportunity to share it

During and interview, you have the right to:

• avoid responding to certain question(s) – you don’t have to answer everything that is asked and can revert the focus by saying “I think the real issue is…” or “what’s most important to understanding about this is…”
• remind the reporter that you have an important message to be heard and request that they give you the opportunity to share it
• have an advocate, friend or family member with you during an interview or to act as your spokesperson if that person can help you get your message across while providing support

After an interview, you have the right to:

• request a copy of your television or radio interview
• keep in touch with reporters that care about your story, issues and information to make them aware of new developments