Since 2016, Nina Fuchs has been speaking publicly about being raped under the influence of knockout drops. Over the years, she has had some negative experiences in dealing with the press and has had to learn the hard way. So it’s important to her to pass on tips for handling PR work as a victim and to point out the pitfalls.

For example, in a “Tired Women” podcast she tells Bianca Jancovska @groschenphilosophin about her PR experiences as a victim of sexualised violenceand about how victims can fight in the media for justice without burning out or losing control over your own story. She also lists some dos and don’ts when working with journalists and with the justice system.Click this link to listen to the episode:

Tips

• The media representative must display a certain degree of sensitivity for the issue and for you as a victim. That is a basic requirement. If that is not the case, we advise you not to cooperate so you protect yourself. It will also prevent you from being retraumatised.
• If an article is to be printed always ask to read and authorise it in advance so there are no unwelcome surprises later on.
• Know your limits and make sure others respect them (be aware that there is a risk of being retraumatised if you need to talk to camera about the sexualised violence you experienced).
• Be aware that, despite their empathy and sympathy, journalists and TV presenters have a job to do and money to earn; first and foremost, they are interested in how much attention they can generate, measured in circulation, viewing figures or online clicks.
• The same media people who stand up for you and make you strong at one time can completely ignore you at the next opportunity if they feel that the story is not going to grab attention or will not be well received.
• It is important to have clear knowledge of the legal situation and the appropriate terminology regarding your case so your credibility is not questioned (the credibility of victims is very often questioned – you can find more information on this in the section on false accusations).
• It can happen that you find the courage to tell the press your story (maybe for the first time) and then discover that (almost) everything is cut out or your story is not used at all. So it is as well to be prepared for this.