The Comms Blog
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Protecting the Vulnerable
Elly Button, Head of Campaigns Communications at Barnardo's:
"If you are dealing with under 18s, particularly under 16s, you must get permission from their parents or whoever is in loco parentis – normally Local Authorities. This is required by law. Put in place very strict written guidelines for print and broadcast journalists, perhaps even a contract for a long-term project, which controls what can and cannot be revealed/recorded. Ensure that the media understand that the family can back out at any time. In my experience, responsible media have understood our caution and are willing to cooperate for the greater good. The BBC Producer Guidelines offer useful information in relation to working with children www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/
Jamie Gill, Press and Public Affairs Manager at United Response:
"An honest discussion will a potential case study will help you identify areas where difficult questions may come up, and decide whether the risk to that person's well-being outweighs potential benefits. The case study needs to understand the basic rules of journalism, such as the fact that nothing is off the record. When we work with people with learning disabilities, we may put together an accessible word and picture document which the person can refer to during the interview. This reminds them of things they said they wanted and didn't want to discuss."
Hannah Clack, Press Officer at the Alzheimer's Society:
"A successful relationship between a media volunteer and a charity relies on Choice, Advice, Trust and Support. Just think of CATS! Volunteers should feel they have the choice to partake in each request after hearing more about the issue and timing. It helps to have a large number of ready volunteers so no one feels obliged to participate. Offer support and advice on what a journalist might ask and remind people that journalists are only human too! Explain to volunteers they don't have to be an expert, speaking from their own experiences is the best way they can help. After all, their story can say so much more than facts and figures."
Chris Bentley, Press Officer at the MS Society:
"A certain sensitivity to the issues people with MS face is important in understanding the personality of the case study and what they will be happy talking about. A case study put on the spot by a nosey and persistent journalist will not be a case study for long. Always reassure your case studies and keep in touch with courtesy calls before and after interviews. Also ensure the journalist has all the facts they need prior to writing and ask to see the copy for "fact approval" before to publication. Don't be surprised, however, to get a negative response."
Fiona Craig, PR Manager at Whizz-Kidz:
"Once you have verbal consent from a child's family, it's always wise to double check the facts you have in your case study/story with them. The last thing you want to happen is for something to be factually incorrect when it concerns a child and their disability. When you brief a child or parent, chat to them about who will be interviewing them, put them at ease and give them the top key messages you want conveyed. Remember to keep them short as you don't want to bombard them with too many facts, five at the most!"
Comments
Help him name God JESUS CHRIST!...
Good afternoon and happiness to You!
Many people to help to destroy the SOVIET UNION, who will help this family
today!
For each comes the moment in the life, when it is necessary to lengthen the
hand of aid,if you desire to itself good.
We has already been turned in charities organizations. They threw out our
rotation. We request you by name God- help them.
This is a letter from a group of college students from Omsk, Russia. We
have formed this team in pursuit of one common goal charitable fundraising
to help Maria Komeliagina, a very sick girl who needs urgent medical
attention.
Both her parents are handicapped and hardly able to be of any financial
assistance.
The Bible says, Give to Those Asking. Instead, many prefer to deprive those
who ask of their last bits. The Bible also says that even dogs sometimes
get leftovers from their master s table. Now, we are asking you: is this
sick girl inferior to dogs? Does she deserve to die an excruciating death
because of her illness? We have been trying to raise funds for this
desolate family for 3 years, and often encountered manifestations of the
world s cruelty, human cold-heartedness and indifference toward someone
else’s distress. However, we also met good and charitable people who sent
their sympathetic replies to our letters. Those people sent Maria their
love in words, food, vitamins, some clothes, and toys. Some of them sent
money, too.
If you are able to provide Maria and her parents ANY assistance at all,
please do not hesitate to do so. Anything will do, even if you just advise
us of an organization that really helps unfortunate people like this poor
family.
The amount that this family needs is huge, it totals to $16,000. We are
Fully aware of the enormity of this amount and of the fact that very few people
Are ready to give it to a sick child if the child is not their own. But, if
mercy and grace are still alive in your heart, please help them with
whatever you can. If you have an opportunity, any information about this
family published in the Internet would help, too (please see the webpage at:
http://www.helped.boom.ru/english.html
It can also be any money, or medicine, or food, or old toys, or second-hand
clothes (they will make it over for Maria). They would greatly appreciate
any assistance.
We hope you will extend your sympathy to this family and their daughter.
Their address is:
Leonid Ivanovich Komeliagin.
y. 20 n/c - 51A, k-24
Omsk-53,
644053.
Russia.
Telephone: +7(3812) 67 39 07
Speak only Russian.
Donations accounts:
For: SBERBANK Zapadno-Sibirsky head office, Omsk, Branch 8634/0195
Account wich institution: SWIFT: SABRRUMMTN1
Account number: 42 307 840 6 4500 0334041
Name: Komeliagin Leonid Ivanovich.
Details of payments: Donations for Medical Treatment.
Or web money:
$USD - Z173009435209
EURO – E475092545542
Or send WESTERN UNION
For Leonid Komeliagin
y. 20 n/c - 51A, k-24
Omsk-53,
644053.
Russia.
Please!Writer Your answer only this email:
leonkom@pisem.net
Sincerely-Evgeny Filippov,Stepan Shpeht, Student Team member.
May God bless you for your kindness and grace!
Passing by the grief of others, you will stumble against its.
He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
There can be who that will not regret 100, 200 dollars for this family.
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