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A thread on covering sexual abuse/assault, covering #MeToo stories. Some of this is part of an internal document circulated for the employees of @thenewsminute created by @rgmlk @sowmya_rajen @anna_isaac and I. But it may help all of you. Do read.
Speak to the survivor, if they don't want to retell their experience, do not force them. Survivors become emotional. Talk to them about the consequences of doing a story. Sometimes, after you explain, they would not want a story published.
Discuss all angles of the story with the survivor. Choose words carefully. They may not want certain words to be used. They may not want certain angles included.
Understand that a survivor's version may change, they are also under pressure. Then take an editorial call on whether to do the story and if yes, how to do it.
What are the legal issues for you as a journalist and for the survivor? Explain this in clear terms. Once a survivor narrates their story, make sure you check with them what can be quoted, what cannot be.
If a survivor of sexual abuse or assault has spoken to you and asked you not to reveal their identity, you will not gossip about the story and reveal the identity of the person to anyone, including colleagues, friends, partners, siblings or cousins.
Confidentiality is not limited to what you write as a journalist on your publication. It includes what goes on your social media feed, comments on the same, your personal emails and text conversations, phone calls etc.
No reporter/writer/editor will reveal any such details including name, organisation, address, phone number etc loudly in the newsroom or outside of it. The only person to whom you will reveal the details of the victim is your editor.
