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> Dealing with the Media
Dealing with the Media
In the run-up to the trials of defendants who plead not guilty - sometimes a delay of many months - you may want to look closely at the media coverage of the event and respond constructively by telephone or email to journalists, by 'letters to the editor' or by press release to anything that is said that you know is not true.
The police are adept at public relations and will invariably have their own publicists, who are experienced journalists, handling press enquiries about the event and its aftermath. The media will often take this version as gospel, presuming the guilt of anyone unfortunate enough to have been arrested. Whilst there are no doubt other factors at play, this may sometimes be due to their perception that there is no other reliable source to challenge what the police say.
As well as supplying information from your organisation, you may be able to put the media in touch with ordinary protesters who had a very different impression of the way the event took place. If you know that celebrities at the event (such as local politicians) are likely to be supportive, you can ask them if they, too, are prepared to be interviewed.
It will give confidence to defendants to see that you are active about putting media coverage right. It also advertises the work that you are doing in case defendants or potential witnesses did not know how to get in touch.
The police are adept at public relations and will invariably have their own publicists, who are experienced journalists, handling press enquiries about the event and its aftermath. The media will often take this version as gospel, presuming the guilt of anyone unfortunate enough to have been arrested. Whilst there are no doubt other factors at play, this may sometimes be due to their perception that there is no other reliable source to challenge what the police say.
As well as supplying information from your organisation, you may be able to put the media in touch with ordinary protesters who had a very different impression of the way the event took place. If you know that celebrities at the event (such as local politicians) are likely to be supportive, you can ask them if they, too, are prepared to be interviewed.
It will give confidence to defendants to see that you are active about putting media coverage right. It also advertises the work that you are doing in case defendants or potential witnesses did not know how to get in touch.
