Caring for Contributors: Ethical And Practical Approaches To Working With Contributors

Written by 6ft From The Spotlight WellBeing Facilitator, Carys Seren Mol

Whether you’re collaborating with a contributor for a single day or many years, protecting their wellbeing is crucial for the creation of mentally healthy productions.?

When we ask contributors to share their stories on camera, it’s essential we take steps to protect their mental health and wellbeing. This responsibility falls under a production’s Duty of Care, a legal obligation to safeguard everyone involved in the production from physical and psychological harm. In this blog, we explore why this is so important and offer some practical suggestions that productions can implement.?

Why??

Working with contributors has the potential to be extractive, exploitative, or even harmful. Showing genuine care for a contributor’s wellbeing through your interactions and production planning can help them feel safe and confident.

They’ll be more inclined to consider your reasonable requests on their energy, time and access to their stories if they trust in your intentions. You’re also more likely to capture genuine, authentic content from confident contributors.?

A focus on care can also benefit the crew and the company’s working culture. When wellbeing is prioritised in decision-making, it positively impacts how people feel about their role. Crew members are generally happier when they see that wellbeing is important, and this includes contributors being treated well. Putting care at the forefront can also impact your reputation as a company that people want to work with, crew and contributors alike.??

How??

In addition to treating contributors with dignity and respect, there are several practical steps you can take to support and protect their wellbeing:?

Read the full article now: https://6ftfrom.org/blog/caring-for-contributors-ethical-and-practical-approaches-to-working-with-contributors/