Media
If you are a journalist, this is where you can find information about
the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby campaigns and current issues.
The media section provides:
- easy access to the Lobby's press releases,
- the contact details for people who can talk to you more about our campaigns and current issues, and
- access to photos for use in articles.
If you are a member or supporter of the Gay and Lesbian community, this section also provides information on the role you can play to help get accurate and sensitive messages about Gay and Lesbian issues to the media, and through them to the broader community.
For journalists
Add Press releases
Contact details - include referrals to other organisations on certain
issues, eg those we have MOUs with like ACON etc.
Downloadable photos of Anth and Alex, full committee photo, events etc.
For the public - working with the media
Newspapers, TV, radio and new technologies, like the internet, are all a major influence in our lives. They can let us know about issues that affect us and promote activities that we might be interested in.
Given that the media is often seen as a trustworthy source of information, what we are told or read can influence our attitudes and opinions. That makes it especially important that the media is providing accurate information and dispelling the myths and misconceptions that can surround Gay and Lesbian issues. Importantly for the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, it can be a way to generate support for our campaigns from both our community and the broader community.
Because the media inform the public, it is important they are informed themselves. For this reason we must work with the media to assist them deliver accurate, relevant and well timed messages about our rights and our concerns. You can play a part in this.
Most newspapers publish a letters or opinion editorial page. This section of the paper usually has articles from regular columnists and an in-depth feature about a particular issue. Articles written by the public are sometimes also published so you could offer to write an article by contacting the features editor with an idea.
Letters to the editor are a great way to make sure your message gets across. The letters page is read widely by the public and by journalists who can sometimes use it to get ideas for future stories. You could easily write a letter to the editor in response to something you have seen already in the paper. Your response should be sent quickly and should be emailed or faxed. Letters should be short and to the point. They will have more chance of being used if you write in a dramatic or striking way. But if you are writing about a serious issue, it is best to be serious and not try to be funny. Letters editors get lots of letters so your opening paragraph needs to grab attention.
Internet sites will often run polls to see what their readers think about a particular issue. This is another chance for you to get involved. It's easy to log your vote and whether we like it or not, many people view the results of these surveys as telling them something about what the public think about an issue. This is despite the fact that most of us know it is only a reflection of how many people bothered to log on.
Think about what you can do to get involved and make a difference in how a particular issue is seen or presented by the media. Keep informed and help to keep others informed too.
Complaints
There is a code of ethics by which journalists are meant to work. It states that journalists:
- Must report and interpret the news with scrupulous honesty;
- Should not suppress essential facts and should not distort the truth by omission or wrong or improper emphasis;
- Should always respect the confidences received in the course of their work;
- Should not take unfair or improper advantage of any kind if this may influence their work;
- Should only use fair and honest methods to obtain news, pictures and documents;
- Should always reveal their identity as a member of the media before obtaining any interview for the purpose of using it for publication.
It is always best to direct any concerns or complaints you have about a report directly to the media group, eg newspaper, radio or TV station.
If you are not satisfied with the response and you have a specific complaint about a particular newspaper (not an individual journalist) you can contact:
The Australian Press Council
Suite 303, 149 Castlereagh St
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9261 1930 or (1800) 02 5712
Fax: (02) 9267 6826
E-mail for complaints: 
complaints@presscouncil.org.au
For more information: 
www.presscouncil.org.au
If you are not satisfied with the response and you have a specific complaint about the content of a radio or TV program you can contact:
The Australian Broadcasting Authority
PO Box Q500,
Queen Victoria Building
NSW 1230
Telephone: (02) 9334 7700
E-mail:info@aba.gov.au
For more information: www.aba.gov.au