MEDIA and HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Media and Public relations

The General Service Conference of AA adopted unanimously the following statement of “AA’s Public Information Policy”:

  • In all public relationships, AA’s sole objective is to help the still-suffering alcoholic. Always mindful of the importance of personal anonymity, we believe this can be done by making known to him, and to those who may be interested in his problem, our own experience as individuals and as a fellowship in learning to live without alcohol.
  • We believe that our experience should be made available freely to all who express sincere interest. We believe further that all our efforts in this field should always reflect our gratitude for the gift of sobriety and our awareness that many outside AA are equally concerned with the serious problem of alcoholism.

This statement reflects a long-standing AA tradition of not seeking publicity for promotional purposes, but of always being willing to cooperate with representatives of all media who seek information about the recovery program or about the structure of the Fellowship.

In Australia, information and public relations matters affecting the Fellowship of AA as a whole are the concern of the Public Information Committee and the Committee on Cooperation with the Professional Community of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Reporters are welcome at AA open meetings, dinners, regional get-togethers, or similar gatherings of recovered alcoholics. The only restriction is a request not to disclose the name of any AA member or report information that could identify a member through events or circumstances unique to them. (For obvious reasons, photographs cannot be taken at AA meetings.)

NOTE: In many areas of Australia, AA members have established committees on public information and cooperation with the professional community, to assist local media in obtaining accurate information about the Fellowship. Background material on AA may also be obtained upon request from these groups.

Anonymity letter to the media

TO:

Managing editors;
news reporters and photo directors;
radio and television editors and producers;
television talk show hosts

FROM:

Public Information Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous

SUBJECT:

ANONYMITY

We seek your continued support by presenting AA members:

  • only by first name
  • using no recognizable picture. and
  • without identifying them by a unique set of events or circumstances

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of our Fellowship and assures our members that their recovery will be private. Often, the active

alcoholic will avoid any source of help which might reveal his or her identity.

Alcoholics Anonymous is not affiliated with any other organization, although many have adapted AA’s Twelve Steps for their own use.  AA is self-supporting, declining any outside contributions; and we are non-professional, offering only the voluntary support of one alcoholic helping another.

Throughout the world, favorable media coverage has been a principal means of bringing alcoholics into our Fellowship. You have helped make this possible, and for that we thank you.

If you are a professional and wish us to send you further information please e-mail us your postal mailing address so that we may send you the material.

Anonymity Statement

There may be some here who are not familiar with our tradition of personal anonymity at the media level.

The public relations policy of Alcoholics Anonymous is based on attraction rather than promotion. We need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press radio and films.

Therefore we respectfully ask that no AA member be identified by full name or photograph in published or broadcast reports of this meeting.

We also alert members of Alcoholics Anonymous who are concerned about their anonymity, that they “share in a general way” that cannot identify them from unique events or circumstances in their life.

For all Darwin media enquiry’s please contact :

Darwin Public Information Officer, Dan T: pi_aadarwin@outlook.com

Health Professionals

AA members are available to cooperate with you

  • Health care professionals
  • correctional facilities professionals
  • treatment facilities professionals
  • employee assistance professionals
  • media and news professionals

Alcoholics Anonymous has many AA members and service committees who are available to provide professionals with information about Alcoholics Anonymous. AA has a long history of cooperating but not affiliating with outside organisations and being available to provide AA meetings or information about AA upon request.

For professionals working with people who have special needs we have AA material and literature in Braille, a video in Auslan (Australian Sign Language), easy-to-read larger print pamphlets, and much more.

If you would wish any further information about Alcoholics Anonymous please call or write to our Darwin District Office in Australia;

Phone – (08) 89485202.

Darwin Public Information Officer: currently vacant, but please email or phone the Darwin District Office for further information

We look forward to hearing from you and would be delighted to receive your phone call.

If you are a professional and wish us to send you further information please e-mail us your postal mailing address so that we may send you the material.

People new to AA will find information specific to their needs in the New to AA? section.