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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BEING HARASSED BY A JOURNALIST If you find yourself or someone you know at the centre of a news story, you may be approached by members of the press at some point for comment, for information or for photographs. Sometimes, people are only too happy to speak to journalists in such circumstances. There are occasions, however, when people will want to be left alone, and this may be one of them. If repeated approaches occur - for example if the journalist does not know that you do not wish to speak - these can be upsetting. There may be very rare instances too where a journalist may otherwise try to harass you in breach of the Code of Practice. To view the Code's provisions on harassment, click here. Only when there is a clear public interest in doing so may a journalist breach this clause. There are a number of practical steps that you can take to avoid unwanted or repeated approaches: 1. Get the name of the journalist and the newspaper or news agency for which they work. Tell them politely that you do not wish to speak to them and that they should not contact you again. Say that you understand that under the Code of Practice journalists must not persist in contacting you having been asked to desist. It will help if you tell them that you are saying the same to every journalist. This applies however a journalist is approaching you - whether it is at home, in a public place or over the telephone. You should then be left alone. If you are not, see point 5, below. 2. If you are at home and too distressed to answer your door, pin a short note to it to say that you do not wish to speak to journalists and do not want to be disturbed. 3. Similarly, if you are being telephoned repeatedly and do not wish to speak to journalists, alter your answerphone message to say that only personal callers should leave a message as you are not speaking to any journalist. 4. Some people - particularly at times of grief or shock - find it helpful to ask a friend or neighbour who is not as closely associated with the story to deal with press enquiries. They can then answer your phone and door and either pass on a prepared statement (reflecting what is said in point 1) or turn down requests for interviews. 5. If these measures fail and you feel that you are still being harassed, contact the PCC immediately. Click here to find out the numerous ways of getting in touch. The number of the PCC's emergency 24 hour advice service is 07659 152656. We will get in touch with the editor concerned and deal with your complaint urgently, aiming to stop any harassment that is occurring as soon as possible. However, we will obviously need to know for which paper the journalist works along with a brief letter (if possible) outlining your complaint. It may also be helpful during the course of an investigation if you could supply: a note of the dates and times that you were approached, along with a brief note of what was said a copy of any note that you pinned to your door or any instructions that you left on your answerphone copies of any letters posted to you by journalists Should the Commission have to proceed with a formal complaint, a named case officer will be assigned to you with the aim of resolving the matter to your satisfaction. You will be kept informed of the progress of this investigation and, if the matter is not resolved satisfactorily, the Commission will decide whether or not the journalist breached the Code. Broadcast journalists are not covered by the PCC Code of Practice. But if you have concerns about the presence or behaviour of such journalists, we can forward your comments to the broadcasters who will consider whether it is appropriate to take action. Children The terms of the Code of Practice relating to children are very specific. Click here to see them if the harassment involves a child. Grief and shock There are also strong provisions in the Code about how journalists should treat you if you are suffering from grief or shock. Click here to see them. Click here to download this document in Word format. |
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