Media outlets and policy makers tend to paint female sex workers with a broad brush ? either as drug-addicted young women or as trafficked migrants who have no control over their lives.   There is far more to this industry than the stereotypes portrayed as we have seen with the most recent "Belle De Jour" story that has been rampant in the news.

We are looking for people to share their stories with us on their own terms for a documentary which aims to 
humanize and give a wider overview and perspective of people in this industry.  This documentary is not conventionally about sex workers  but rather about the reconceptualization of the idea of a ?call girl? without dramatizing it and/or showing it through rose-tinted glasses.

We understand the sensitivity of this job and any initial conversations we have will be confidential and off the record. We would be extremely grateful to anyone who would be willing to talk with us?over the phone, or in person, via email, which ever is most comfortable and most convenient for them.

If there is anyone who is interested in learning more about our project and potentially becoming a part of it, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you so much for checking out our post.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mandana Mofidi
Producer
MovingForwardMedia@gmail.com

Same name, slightly different pitch.

Since you are on a site for WG's, what are you willing to pay us for our time? Remember in our business time is money. And we are not talking some token bus, or train fare fee either, I mean have a look at the average escort's site and see what we charge, see what your budget allowances are and then get back to us. Plus don't come with that age old producer crap about not wanting to pay for interviews, either. You tried it on once, and it didn't work, what the hell makes you think it will work now, different wording?
Rant over.

I might sound out of place or plain stupid here (there's nothing more frightening for my ego than this - just so you know what this post costs me) and I have only just joined the site so might not be familiar with your Ps and Qs, but I've noticed there were a lot of posts (and the material on the site itself) about how to keep a low profile, stay secret, how this job makes you lonely and how "normal" people mistreat you. Now, I don't want to offend anyone, but this situation is not likely to change unless we get together, go out there and tell all these "normal" people that there is nothing wrong with us, that we might not be better but definitely not worse than them and prostitution is a job like any other. And in the modern world, I can't think of a better way than mass media for it.
To the point: maybe (just maybe) we shouldn't ignore posts like this?
I personally have made a couple of interviews with BBC promoting the healthy image of a sex worker as a person, showing that the job is not all wine and roses and it gets scary at times and the laws do not really protect us as they should. Yes, I was paid for it. No, it was nowhere near my usual charges. But I still think I've done the right thing - if what I've done can change at least one person's view on us and make a life of at least one other escort a bit easier, than it was worth my time and effort. I know one interview is not going to change the world, but, as I said, if we all get together and show a bit of selflessness (money is important, very important, but is it ALL about money?), then maybe (again, just maybe, and maybe not even in our lifetime  ) things will be slightly different.
I'm not sure if this exact post should be trusted as the author provides some odd e-mail address, not work e-mail such as @bbc.co.uk or the like and definitely do not provide any personal details to these people and ask for their code of ethics on data protection and footage storing/ using, but don't you think we should be more open to the idea?

Aside from personal concerns, such as being exposed and suchlike, I would want to avoid talking about myself in a way that might be misconstrued as me talking about ALL sex workers. So I won't be doing personal interviews with anyone - it's clearly a risk that they'll write whatever they want and twist your words. Instead, I'm quite interested in joining official sex worker groups, whether focused on helping each other or on raising sex work awareness in this country and globally by adding my voice to that of a more organised thing. I am still very wary of being in the media in any way at all (like another poster said - no local newspaper-attended events etc!) so have not made the leap yet but I hope I'll grow the necessary cojones eventually - maybe after I've 'retired'. Anyway, I think I understand your point, Jewel, but also think that posts like the one at the top of this thread aren't really the 'way forward' necessarily and might turn out terribly for someone if they end up mixed up in some media crazy thing and getting stalked/exposed/generally upset. Going on a lone crusade to change the nation's opinions of sex workers is obviously not a tempting plan for those of us who just want to get by and avoid total ruination.

But you're right - things still very much need changing. IUSW.org and SW5.info have plenty of ideas for where anyone who wants to help can get started.

I agree with this, and would add that even if the journos themselves are well meaning, once the producers and editors get their hands on things they will manipulate any part of what is said in any way they can to make it in accordance with the 'angle' they want to show.

These people are not here to do us all a favour, they are here to win ratings, boost their company profiles, gain recognition and above all make money. The idea that they are earnest freedom fighters trying to give a voice to the oppressed is a delightful one, but way off the mark - I am involved with various sex worker organisations/projects and will happily do anything I can to fight prejudice, discrimination and injustice, but I'd rather snort carpet tacks than get cosy with the media.

Sorry, I should have been more specific in case someone out there gets inspired by my call to fight for freedom.

Disclaimer 

A. By no means do you ever get cosy with the media (evil. Necessary, but evil, if only through their curiosity), but then tacks, carpet or otherwise, are not advisable either. You give them false name, false age, false location, you DO NOT give them any personal information, be it work name, contact number, e-mail, place of birth, shoe size or your rates.

B. Anything I ever did (media wise, that is) was done through the organisations mentioned above by Emily Jones, with a member of the organisation present (except for one occasion but there were plenty of others present as it was a group chat) to look after you and the way the conversation with the journalist is progressing, stopping you if necessary to avoid you saying something that will show ALL of us in a way we do not want.

C. You do not go around looking for it and offering your media services - soliciting is still illegal in this country  You get contacted by your organisation with the description of the project they are working on, and you take it from there if you're comfortable with it. They will only offer you something you are suitable for (considering your age range, way of working, etc) and if you want to hide your face/ change your voice, it's all possible.

It's great that we can help each other and be there for each other, virtually or in person, but what I'm trying to say is do we have to hide from the rest of the world? Raising sex work awareness in this country (thank you, Emily) is what I'm talking about and I really don't want it to be a lone crusade.

Yet, I've a few acquaintances in the business, who have plenty of time on their hands with nothing to do but watching TV and when offered a chance, they can't be bothered -  because "they are not in the business for long" (it's year 4 of one of them in particular says this). Or because it doesn't pay - THIS is what I find so infuriating and what prompted me to post here in the first place. Yes, this initial documentary post doesn't look very trustworthy and I pointed it out myself, but do not ignore it purely on financial basis! What example are we giving to the new ones? There might be some of them out there who will go and get in touch with the poster. But instead of saying that it's only advisable to do this when you know what you're getting into and that you should take every precaution there is while doing it, we post something that makes you think that everything we do is for money. Well, yeah, everything we do IS for money, but shouldn't there be something we do for ourselves?

Or do I need to get a life?   

Another disclaimer 

I'm not calling everyone to go on TV and this is not my aim either - I've my work to look after. And sorry if I sound lecturing, I suppose once a teacher, always a teacher.

Revolution cancelled. I'll go and get a life. Right now 

Gee, why am I not surprised!