4th March 2025
This toolkit has been prepared as part of the project: Survivor-led Advocacy Training for Survivors of Forced and Child Marriage; with funding from the University of Nottingham’s Impact Accelerator Account, in collaboration with lived experience experts from Karma Nirvana’s Survivor Ambassador Panel.
As a survivor, you might want to engage with the media to talk about different components of honour-based abuse (HBA). This may be to:
Inform the public about what HBA is
- To give people a better idea of who it happens to and why
- To combat stereotypes and assumptions
- To advocate on a particular issue (for example the need for a statutory definition or specialist service provision).
- Representatives from the media and journalists might also reach out to you for commentary on a recent incident or current HBA-related campaign.
This toolkit has been developed to support you in your decision regarding if and how you might want to engage in media interviews and/or other activities with the media. These questions might help you decide if the invitation for engagement you have received is something that you want to do, as well as help you think through the circumstances and conditions under which you would like to talk to the media about HBA.
This toolkit would not have been possible without the input, support and expertise of lived experience experts from Karma Nirvana’s Survivor Ambassador Panel. We deeply appreciate your trust, confidence, and collaboration.
Learn more about using the toolkit in the video below.
For Journalists
For journalists and media professionals working with survivors, this resource is also useful to help understand what common concerns survivors may have about talking about their experiences in the media. Here are some guidelines you can follow when working with survivors:
- Prioritise Safety and Anonymity
- Survivors may face ongoing risk – journalists and media professionals must discuss and respect the level of anonymity needed during the interview process.
- Work with survivors and support organisations to implement strong anonymity measures when needed (e.g. using pseudonyms, avoiding identifiable details, ensuring metadata removal from images).
- Be aware that voice distortion is not always effective – using voiceovers is a better method.
- Use Trauma-Informed Interviewing
- Survivors may be re-traumatised when recalling their experiences – handle interviews with care and sensitivity. Take your time and ensure you have enough time for interviews with survivors.
- Offer questions in advance to help them prepare.
- Survivors should never feel pressured to answer questions that make them uncomfortable. Sharing questions in advance also offers an opportunity to clarify what areas they would prefer not to discuss.
- Be mindful that survivors may only realise their boundaries mid-interview – allow space for them to stop if needed.
- Avoid Sensationalism and Stereotyping
- HBA is often misrepresented as a cultural or religious issue – ensure coverage focuses on the root cause, which is gender-based violence and coercive control.
- Survivors often fear being reduced to a ‘story’ – ensure their voices are represented accurately and respectfully.
- Headlines and framing matter – avoid clickbait that distorts survivors’ experiences.
- Give Survivors Control Over Their Story
- Survivors should be able to review how they are represented
- Explain what the angle of the story is and be clear about what will be included or excluded.
- Inform them if their story may be syndicated or reshared in different formats.
- Provide Aftercare and Support
- Many survivors feel alone after interviews – journalists should follow up and ensure they are coping well.
- Offer guidance on how to manage potential backlash, especially online, ideally before a piece is published.
- If the survivor is struggling, signpost them to support organisations. Ensure you understand what support your organisation can also offer, and communicate this to the survivor.
- Consider Practical Needs
- Survivors are often asked to travel for interviews without expenses covered – where possible, arrange travel and accommodation in a way that respects their safety and comfort.
- Last-minute changes can be distressing – communicate logistics clearly and early. While changes may be unavoidable, there are ways to make sure a survivor’s time and efforts are respected.
- Consider back-up options in the event of changes to the schedule, for example, adjusting the piece to a pre-recorded interview that can be aired at a later date.
- Recognise Survivors as Experts, Not Just Case Studies
- Survivors’ lived experience is valuable expertise, and they should be treated as contributors, not just subjects.
- If other experts are compensated for their insight, survivors should not be expected to work for free. Ensure a fair recognition of their time through compensation wherever possible.
By adopting these principles, journalists can build trust, report ethically, and ensure survivor voices are heard without causing further harm.