A news story can have a very long afterlife, particularly if it remains available online. Co-creational news media providers’ duty of care does not stop when a story is published or even within a few months of publication.
It is always possible that a participant will get in touch years after publication with concerns about the impact of the story. They might want to get more involved again, or to remove their consent for an earlier publication. Likewise, a story might resonate in surprising ways for a journalist. These are complex issues which require a sensitive and respectful approach.
Tips
- Foster long-term relationships with participants so that you can follow through on your theory of change together but be prepared for participants to move away from a project if they have other priorities in their lives.
- Build a shared understanding with journalists and participants that the process of change may be slow and unpredictable. Do not promise that a story will swiftly lead to a desired outcome or impact if this cannot be guaranteed.
- Try to identify and mitigate the risk that a story will backfire on journalists, participants or their wider community, particularly where there are social, cultural or economic factors that might influence how a story is received.
Example
- Inclusive Journalism Cymru is a network that connects, supports, and campaigns for those marginalised or excluded by the journalism industry in Wales.
