• Media

Participating in an Interview

  • Written By: Lioness

It is very important to establish the ground rules of the conversation with the reporter before the interview itself is conducted. 

Explain in what capacity you are willing to speak, and get the reporter’s confirmation of the terms in writing.

Reporters offer interviews in various formats:

  • Phone or Zoom call — the most common interview format for print or digital reporters. Reporters typically take notes during calls and record the conversation for reference.
  • Broadcast (audio or video) interview — typically used by broadcast journalists who serve a radio, podcast, or TV audience. It is difficult to be anonymous in a broadcast interview; if you prefer anonymity, suggest a phone call instead.
  • E-mail or text interview — rare and generally avoided due to concerns of fraud or digital security. This is usually only selected at the whistleblower’s request.

The DOs and DON’Ts of media interviews

  • DO prepare your story. Ahead of a scheduled interview, be sure to ask the reporter what they plan to ask or discuss with you during the call. Reporters often prefer not to share their specific questions in advance, but typically offer a brief outline of points they would like to cover. Use this information to prepare yourself for the interview — have a strong understanding of the details you feel comfortable sharing and the message you hope to convey.
  • DO establish ground rules for the conversation. Get written confirmation in an e-mail or other message from the journalist about the terms of the interview — that is, on the record, off the record, on background, anonymously, and so forth. See Glossary.
    Reporters typically assume an interview is on the record unless otherwise stated, so it is good practice to double-check at the start of any conversation to ensure clear communication and expectations. Throughout the interview, you can adjust these expectations to your preference by stating, “I want to go off the record” — for example, before sharing sensitive information — and then when you are ready, saying, “I can go back on the record now.”
  • DO confirm any recording. Many states only require one-party consent to record phone calls, meaning that a reporter can record a call without telling their source — and you can do the same (see Documentation). Still, it is best to strive for transparency when building trust with a reporter, which includes getting on the same page about whether the call will be recorded from either end.
  • DO ask for and offer clarification. If a journalist asks a question that is unclear or difficult to answer, request clarification before responding. The same applies to a journalist who may be confused by your story — if they ask you to clarify something during an interview, it is simply to ensure proper communication.
  • DO tell the truth — and tell it consistently. Honesty is critical when speaking with the media, especially on the record. To be taken seriously by the public and authorities, a whistleblower must tell a story that is consistent in its details and facts; this is particularly important when facing interview requests from multiple media outlets.

 

Note: Once information is published by the media, it will be considered fact unless it is clearly stated to be opinion. Sources who intentionally lie to the media risk facing legal action.

“If you’re telling the same story, the truth, as they say, it sets you free. The truth absolutely helped me get everything aligned, even when it came legally. Even my lawyers have said, ‘You told the same solid story from the beginning.’ That’s all you have to do, and that’s the best advice.” Amazon whistleblower Chris Smalls 

  • DON’T answer questions that make you uncomfortable. You are not required to answer a question just because it was asked. If a reporter poses an uncomfortable question, a simple response such as “I do not wish to answer that” or “I do not want to speak on that matter” is enough.
  • DON’T gossip. As mentioned above, it is critical to only share information that is true, and to avoid any speculation or unnecessary details that may come from a place of anger or jealousy.

“It’s not a legal proceeding, but it’s also not a therapy session. Even if someone has gone through something traumatic, it is helpful to compartmentalize their emotions from the sequence of events and the story itself, to some degree. Lioness CEO Ariella Steinhorn

  • DON’T overshare. It is a reporter’s job to make you feel comfortable during an interview, but being too comfortable could increase your risk of oversharing. To avoid offering unnecessary details, do not offer more information than you were asked for. Decide ahead of time how much you want to share, and remember to stick to facts over feelings.

“I acted more like I was in a confessional . . . and that’s not how you should treat the press. Most of the time the press are not your friends — they’re trying to get the best story possible. And so they’ll take whatever facts you give them and portray them in whatever light they would like.” Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Brittany Kaiser

  • DON’T get intimidated. It is easy to feel pressured, nervous, or anxious when reliving a traumatic experience — especially when describing that experience on the record. Although sources should avoid becoming too friendly with a reporter, they should not fear the reporter.

“Probing questions are not trying to dissect or tear apart their case or their stories. I think the answers to these questions can really lend legitimacy to their story.” Lioness CEO Ariella Steinhorn

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The time and resources required to put together the Handbook were funded by Omidyar Network. This is a wholly independent project owned and managed by me. No identifying data will ever be collected or shared about who accesses this site — with anyone. That said, I do NOT advise accessing this from a company device. Your employer can, and will likely, track visits to a resource like this Handbook. 

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— Ifeoma Ozoma, Founder of Earthseed, Creator of the Tech Worker Handbook