These guidelines from the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center help victims of mass violence incidents (MVIs) plan for potential interactions with the news media regarding their victimization.
Twenty guidelines are briefly explained. The first guideline explains the importance of and how to plan for media interviews. Interviews are most effective when the time is set in advance. This enables victims to prioritize what they want to say and place off-limits what they want to keep private. Another guideline makes clear, however, that a victim or survivor of an MVI is not obligated to grant an interview with the news media and can cancel a planned interview. Other guidelines pertain to having a support person present during a planned interview; selecting the date, time, and location for an interview; selecting someone to speak on your behalf; using a written or oral statement without media questions; establishing boundaries for an interview; deciding when to end the interview; excluding children from an interview; addressing inaccurate reporting information; and filing a formal complaint against a journalist.