Media

S.E.S.A.M.E. and the Media

SESAME, Inc. has proven to be a respected resource on the issue of educator sexual abuse for news reporters and TV producers. When inquiries about possible interviews with victims of particular teacher/offender types (coaches, younger grades, etc.) are made to us, we never give out names but reply, "We'll look into it."

If we do contact a SESAME member regarding any media interest we always caution them to:

• Be confident of their emotional strength and sure of their recovery and healing status.
• Seek the advice of their attorney as to their legal standing regarding criminal and civil actions or imposed gag orders.
• Know the exact slant of the media or news event and set firm boundaries as to subject matter, "shadow" or direct facial angles and other identifying locale shots before agreeing to be interviewed.
• SESAME gives the survivor the media contact information and reiterates that it is their choice - but only after very careful consideration of the above caveats.

While it is our common goal to raise public awareness of the dynamics and damage of educator sexual abuse, we do know that media attention can be greatly beyond the locus of our control. Editing and unknown other interviewees can turn a hopeful event into a humiliating disaster. Caution, counsel, and courage.