Part VI: Professional considerations

When working with the media, you should consider your obligations under the APA Ethics Code. Psychologists should always use their judgment when talking to media and if you are faced with complex or difficult scenarios, consider seeking additional guidance from the APA Ethics office; your state, provincial, or territorial psychological association’s Ethics Committee; or from colleagues and mentors.

Common ethical scenarios

Requests to interview patients

To make a story more compelling, reporters often look for a human interest angle, which might entail trying to talk to a person or several people with a diagnosed mental illness. In such cases, a reporter might ask you to put them in touch with one or more of your patients, or to discuss patients you have treated.

While this scenario is not directly addressed in the Ethics Code, section 5.05 on testimonials is relevant:

5.05 Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence.

Considerations for patient interviews

• Can you be sure that your patient has the autonomy to decline your invitation? Do they feel obligated to consent?
• If your patient is interviewed, how will an interview affect them? (Note that neither you nor your patient will have control over how the story turns out.)
• Even if your patient has given informed consent to be interviewed alone or with you, how will this affect the professional relationship?

Rather than connecting the reporter with a patient, you might refer them to a consumer or patient advocacy organization, such as Mental Health America. It’s appropriate to discuss issues you encounter in your practice in general terms without jeopardizing anyone’s confidentiality.

Call-in shows and live advice

Many talk radio shows have listeners call in, often live on-air, to ask questions of a studio guest or expert, such as a psychologist. These formats raise the issue of whether a client/therapist relationship is created during such interactions.

Best practices

• Make clear that you are not offering treatment or a diagnosis
• Explain that although you are a psychologist, you are not the listener’s or viewer’s psychologist
• Offer general advice and tips based on psychological principles
• Encourage listeners to see a licensed mental health professional for individual concerns
• Stick to the same approach you would use when friends ask for informal advice

Diagnosing public figures

Reporters often ask psychologists to explain high-profile news stories involving human behavior, which may include requests to comment on the mental health of celebrities or politicians.

Ethical guidelines

• You cannot diagnose someone you have not examined
• If you were treating the individual, confidentiality would prevent discussion
• Make clear you can only speak generally about psychological conditions
• Use language like: “I can’t comment directly about [specific person], nor can I make a diagnosis based on media reports, but I can tell you that individuals with [relevant condition] typically experience...”
• Research the outlet and interviewer beforehand to avoid sensationalistic contexts

Paid interviews and advertising

Be cautious of requests that blur the line between editorial content and advertising. The Ethics Code states:

Psychologists do not compensate employees of press, radio, television, or other communication media in return for publicity in a news item. A paid advertisement relating to psychologists’ activities must be identified or clearly recognizable as such. (APA Ethics Code 5.02 b) and c)

If approached by advertising departments suggesting you pay for coverage or that advertising purchases will result in editorial coverage, decline these arrangements.

Handling misquotes and inaccuracies

Most journalists strive for accuracy in their reporting, but you may be misquoted at some point. These errors are rarely deliberate. Your concern should be that the meaning of what you said to the reporter was conveyed accurately, not so much whether the exact words were used.

When to request corrections

• If the reporter completely missed the point of your statements
• In cases of serious misstatement of your data or views
• When errors could mislead the public about important psychological concepts

How to handle corrections

• Contact the reporter as soon as possible after the error appears
• Be helpful rather than confrontational in your approach
• Request correction during the news cycle when the error occurred, if possible
• Follow up no later than the next day

Preventing misunderstandings

A common error when being interviewed on television is allowing a reporter’s false or inaccurate statements to stand uncorrected. Always speak up when you hear inaccurate information.

Techniques

• If a reporter begins with a false premise, correct that first, then reframe and answer the question
• If a reporter cites unfamiliar information or statistics, don’t assume they’re accurate—simply state you’re unfamiliar with that information
• Take precautions by explaining to reporters if aspects of your work might be easily misinterpreted