Blog
Share your story with the media
If you face injustice and/or want to educate the public on the realities of living with a spinal cord injury, you could share your story with the media.
Phil and Laura’s Story
Phil and Laura, from Bedfordshire were interviewed by the BBC at our 50th event to highlight why SIA’s support is so vital.
Phil was connected to our specialist clinicians and support network team following his injury and since then both he and Laura have become SIA volunteers. The report appeared on BBC Look East (see below) and on BBC radio but prior to this they had never appeared on television before. Here we share the positive impact they had by sharing their personal story and how interviews like these provide education to the public on living with SCI.
Why should anyone who is considering sharing their story with the media take the opportunity?
“Do it, and it’ll make you feel so much better knowing that just telling your story could get one person to think, oh, that’s like me and actually then seek the help that they need.”
“It’s about educating people more. Spinal cord injury is like a fingerprint, there’s never two the same. All those issues like talking bladder and bowel that are taboo, the sort of subjects you don’t talk about, we need to talk about them.”
“Without you taking that step of going out and telling your story, other people’s perception of a spinal cord injury will never change. It will always stay the same.”
Was it a nerve-wracking experience being filmed?
“Once everyone was there and we were talking, it just sort of had a flow to it. It was just for me, personally very relaxed sitting at the table talking to the reporter, more like a conversation than an interview. It was quite easy.”
Did the film crew make you feel comfortable?
“They were all so lovely. You know, everybody was really, really nice and when you were talking about sensitive stuff, they never made you feel uncomfortable, it just flowed.”
What happened when the piece was broadcast?
“It did come across well. And on the Monday, we had a call from a lady to say that she lived in Milton Keynes, and she’d never heard of us until she saw it on the TV. So, you know that even if you just helped one person find the support they needed, it worked.”
Our media team recognise the power of individual voices to change perceptions and are here to offer advice.
- Sharing your story with the media should not regarded as a replacement to seeking the expert guidance, support or advocacy that SIA provides.
- There are no guarantees that any story will be published, but for those that are featured, in most cases we have seen benefits both to the individual and others in a similar situation.
If you are considering this option, please email [email protected] with a brief introduction to your situation and we will be in touch to advise you further.