How to protect yourself when talking to media about ICE raids

As ICE raids have descended upon working class immigrant communities, so has the global press. Local communities, including typically underrepresented areas, are seeing an influx of media coverage unlike anything they’ve experienced.

Many people are having their first encounters with journalists from various publications and media outlets and are unaware of how to protect themselves from lazy or irresponsible media practices that don’t prioritize sources’ or their communities’ best interests.

Sharing your story with reporters can amplify your voice, bring attention to important issues, and help your community. However, speaking to the media without preparation can also put you at risk if reporters don’t handle your story responsibly.

When reporters approach you, knowing a few basic guidelines can help you protect yourself and tell your story on your own terms. These guidelines apply broadly to any media request. This does not apply to public figures and entities who are subject to different standards of accountability.

Reporters should introduce themselves and identify their publication. Feel free to take a moment to look up the reporter and verify they are who they claim to be. Ask for a business card or press badge. Look up stories they have written previously. You can decline an interview if you find anything that makes you uncomfortable.

Before agreeing to the interview, you can ask the reporter about the story they are writing and why they want to speak with you. If you want to tell your story but worry that sharing your identity may put your safety or job security at risk, ask to use  only part of your name or a pseudonym. 

If you are asked to disclose identifying information, such as your place of work or where you live, you may ask if the reporter intends to publish that information and why. You should assume that anything you tell the reporter during your interview will be published unless the conversation is off-the record.

During the interview

You can decline to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable. Depending on the story, you may be asked about where you live, who you live with, or what you do for work. Be as vague or specific as you are comfortable with. Consider any information you share with a reporter as potentially public.

It’s common for reporters to record interviews. Having a recording allows the reporter to focus on their conversation with you and transcribe your quotes accurately. Recordings may also help reporters ask follow-up questions after reviewing the conversation.  

In Minnesota, it is a single party state, so one person can decide to record a conversation without the other's consent. Ask a reporter if they're recording and  how they plan to use the recording. You may also decline to have your conversation recorded, in which case the reporter will take notes. 

Reporters may also ask to take photos or videos of you. However, your permission is not needed in public settings, including City Council meetings and protests in public spaces and streets, and any place on private property in plain view from the public street. If you have safety concerns around being filmed or photographed, consider your level of comfort in those situations and act accordingly to protect your identity by wearing face masks, sunglasses or hats. Stay away from any cameras you see. 

If at any point you want to stop the interview, do so. You may tell the journalist that you no longer want to continue. If you are in person, simply leave. Otherwise, you can hang up the video or phone call.

Red flags to watch for

Reporters should handle your story and community with care. That means asking you what your goal is in sharing your story and what you hope coverage around your story and community will achieve. 

Be wary of reporters who ask leading questions. A leading question is an attempt to get you (the source) to say something that may or may not align with your beliefs. If you feel the reporter is attempting to push a narrative that does not align with your story, you can voice your concerns and emphasize your point of view. Ask clarifying questions about their reporting or information they have received from other sources. Stop the interview if you feel uncomfortable.

The key to interacting with reporters who you are unsure of is to set and maintain clear boundaries from the beginning of the interview process.

Sensitive topics

Depending on the topic of discussion,  you may be asked uncomfortable questions — in some instances regarding harm, violence, natural disasters or trauma. The reporter may be obligated to ask these questions depending on their story. However, if you set certain boundaries, reporters should respect whatever was agreed upon at the outset of your interview. 

Though it may be necessary for the reporter to ask these questions, they should make it clear that you’re not obligated to answer and they should ask questions with care and kindness. You can request trauma-informed reporting, which is not yet a standard practice but gives sources more control over their own story.

Understanding “on” and “off” the record

“On the record” and “off the record” are journalism terms that determine how your information can be used.

Speaking to a journalist off-the-record is a mutual understanding between the source and journalist that the information is not for publication. You may also speak “on background,” which means the information can be published but without direct attribution.

You may establish off-the-record discussions at any point during your interview, but before providing the information you want kept private, say that you want this part to be off-record. Make sure the reporter agrees. Then the journalist should stop recording or taking notes. 

Journalists are not legally required to maintain the privacy of your off-the-record statements, but the ethical integrity of the journalist and publication would be at risk if they violated that agreement.

Bottom line

Speaking with media and journalists should be an uplifting experience for your story and your narrative. Building mutual understanding and respect is important. Maintaining boundaries to keep you safe and comfortable will make the experience better.

This piece was reprinted with permission from the Los Angeles Public Press.