Has anyone taken a story to the papers?

[Sleepsleepmeepmeep]

Something CV / hygene / putting people at risk related. I have gone through all the usual channels and nothing has changed.
I am hoping going to the papers will force some action.

Has anyone taken a story to the papers?
Or can anyone tell me what to expect?
Or whether it has backfired on them? Or worked out?
Any advice seriously appreciated!

I wouldn't. You're just opening yourself up to a world of pain.

Unless you don't mind them using and exploiting you for their own purposes and it being you who ends up being picked apart.

They will trawl through your social media, probably track you down on here, go through your friends' social media, find out your exes' details and lap up their version, etc, etc. Oh, and if there's a really bad photo somewhere of you with tits out and looking seven stone heavier than you are now, they will use it.

And you'll lose your job if it's work related, your DH/DP will lose his if it's to do with his work, your name will appear on Google searches whenever you apply for any subsequent jobs, etc, etc. Happens to consultant surgeons as easily as anybody else.

If after this, it's still worth it, fine.

Whistleblowers are protected by the law:
www.gov.uk/whistleblowing

(Although as PP say, you could still experience reputational damage).

If it's not in that league, really ask yourself what the benefit of you going to the papers is? Will it save people's lives? Are you sure you understand all the facts and the reasons why senior people have not taken it seriously? Are there other avenues apart from press to escalate the issue? (E.g. local MP, regulatory body, etc)

People are having to make very difficult decisions in situations everyone understands are very far from ideal. To me, there is a difference though between the situation being awful and people knowingly making a situation worse than it needs to be. If you can see a clear solution to a serious issue and people are dismissing you, then action is necessary. Just make sure it's the best action to get the situation fixed .

I am sorry you are having this dilemma and thank you for whatever work you are doing. It must be stressful to be in this position.

Waaaaayyyy back in 2004 I tried to tell anyone that would listen about the abuse going on in a private nursery I worked in. Staff not adequately supervising children, enormous staff turnover meaning nobody got trained, bullying of staff by senior management. Care commission didn’t listen nor did the papers. There was an anonymous website set up about 6 years ago called boycott the Hamilton where former staff shared horror stories. Many similar to what I tried to report. Hmie came in and had to actually intervene in the upper school due to the risk of harm to kids and they were horrified at the nursery. Closed it down and it never reopened. So many kids treated awfully by uncaring staff for so much longer than it should have been allowed to go on for.

My ex had a story put on a magazine. Lies from start to finish. I emailed magazine as my dc were mentioned. I was told they take people's word that the contents are true!!
Disgusting imo.

A friend of mine once did - he ended up being threatened with legal action by the subject. The whole thing ended up pretty tawdry, and he really regretted it.

I think it depends how genuinely in the public interest you feel this story is, and which paper you have interest from. Don't forget that journalists (yeah, yeah, not all journalists, etc) are very good at getting you to feel like they are on your side, you are a hero etc, but the reality of what they end up printing is often wildly different.

I few years ago, I emailed the news desk at the News of the World (and a couple of other tabloids) about the fate of racing greyhounds and giving the registration/vehicle details of a van which, at that moment, was taking greyhounds down to a port (Dover, I think) en route to Spain. I didn't hear anything back but know that the vehicle turned back when it reached the port, I don't think it was allowed to board the ferry. The story didn't appear but about a year later, The Sunday Times (which was part of the same group as the News of the World) printed an expose on greyhound racing and it was also headline news on the BBC etc. Whether or not my email made a difference, I was glad that that particular can of worms was opened to scrutiny.

Ok so if you want to do it (but things on here may persuade you otherwise - that’s your choice). Go onto twitter and find the most appropriate journalist. Dm them

Yeah that's enough to make me think twice
I think i will leave it but I have gone to my local mp, and everywhere else I can think of but the only thing they have done (which i am grateful for) is pretty lacking

Def dont want my name in papers
Cant do it anónomously?

@mitzi that is not my experience at all. I've worked broadsheet and lifestyle and we have never done anything of the sort, it would be very frowned upon.

And tabloid*

Most will allow it to be anonymous if it's a good enough story and you say you'll only do it with full anonymity/name change

No way would I go to the papers I wouldn't even buy one.

When my dd was murdered the reporters from a national newspaper were outside my door asking anyone that passed if they knew my dd.
They did print a story that was fucking bullshit.

Don't do it - way back in my past I hung around with some people who committed a massive (non violent) crime. I didn't know this as obviously they were quite cagey about it. They all got done, the case was all over the papers as someone famous was involved. I wasn't even a close friend but a reporter got a tip off (from a taxi driver, I think) and they waited outside my house to talk to me. Quite sneaky, didn't let on who they were at first. The whole thing was very stalker -ish so there's no way I would talk to them. Plus I didn't really know anything. I do know others that talked and they didn't get as much cash as you'd imagine. The whole experience was a bit sleazy and the journalists made up loads of stuff that never happened. If you want the story to get out just tell all your friends instead.

I've been thinking of doing this as the company I work for is behaving appallingly towards their employees , even the vulnerable ones.

I don't "do" Twitter...would this be a better way to go?

Where is the wrongdoing taking place, op? A healthcare setting or eksewhere? And are you an employee of whoever is doing the wrongdoing? I ask so that i can signpost you to appropriate agencies. Media should ne last resort. If you think serious, you should speak out

@dayswithaY
Ahh you reminded me i have no friends!

It's not in a place beginning with B is it OP?

Please don’t
They twist everything to their own agenda
Cannot be trusted

The only person I know who has sold a story is an ex of my stepson who was held prisoner by a neighbour, who was eventually jailed. The story seems unbelievable and I was incredulous when i read it. I have gone to the press through the union before when trying to save jobs, but not for profit, more to raise awareness.

@AndNoneForGretchenWieners
Did it work the way you wanted it to?
'Story' is very black and white so i dont see how it could be twisted but then again im not in the profession

Personally I wouldn't go to the papers but I would go to the local bbc radio station (google their politics reporter). They would protect your identity.

It really depends on what you are trying to report and how much they need you, to be the face of it.

Plenty of stories dont mention who reported it. But plenty of stories need to talk about who reported to have any credibility.

A friend of mine was one of the whistleblowers on the out of date face masks given to NHS staff. She has remained anonymous. Of course she also didn't get paid (as some PP suggest). There's a different between whistleblowing/tipping off a paper or selling a story. I would never do the latter.