SWAN Vancouver partnered with academics, justice-oriented advocates and local and national media outlets and engaged im/migrant sex workers to create a series of resources aimed at shifting the representations of immigrant and migrant sex workers in the media. The intended outcome was the adoption of responsible, ethical, evidence-based journalism that is imbued with accuracy, objectivity, freedom from bias, integrity, and respect in mainstream media.
As part of this initiative, SWAN Vancouver:
- Consulted with immigrant and migrant sex workers, community-based agencies and media consultants to identify, analyze and strategize on how to address problematic reporting
- Partnered with leading academics, other sex work supportive organizations and media consultants to inform the development of Responsible Reporting
- Developed 28 resources as part of a media kit and guidelines for journalists in collaboration and consultation with im/migrant sex workers and subject matter experts
- Made these resources available on a microsite accessible through SWAN’s main resource webpage
- Identified and engaged media outlets and specific journalists to help evaluate and provide feedback on these resources
- Raised awareness by disseminating resources directly to journalists and newsrooms, as well as through social media campaigns and a monthly newsletter
- Partnered with a post-secondary Criminology class studying sex work and Canadian law to utilize and evaluate SWAN’s Responsible Reporting Resources as part of a course assignment.
- Developed educational resources to support selection and use of ethical imagery related to sex work
- Disseminated and animated the Responsible Reporting resources and related topics through a range of communications and social media activities
for the full list of resources