The center of attention

Another major downside to deciding to become a whistleblower is that your message may get lost in the media whirlwind—but by no fault of your own.

Often, the media will focus on the individual’s personal tale for the sake of making a more compelling news story, while the offending organization will focus on attacking a whistleblower's character, personal life, or motive—a strategy known as ad hominem—rather than on the wrongdoing raised.

Here are three reasons why this is a big deal:

1. You suffer and the story goes unnoticed.
2. The fight is in the organization’s favor. The organization has your personnel file. They can question your entire career and reputation, run through your emails, your work, or your performance appraisals with a fine-tooth comb. Your word—and the words of others—can be taken out of context to show, for example, that you have a hidden agenda like revenge or ambition, that you were not a good employee, or even that the offense was actually your fault.
3. You may end up fighting a battle on two fronts. In the event you do suffer retaliation and have to seek recourse, the original offenses become a secondary issue—you now have to emphasize the importance of the wrongdoing, but also defend your job. So you’re left to play offense and defense, while the organization gets to slip by in the shadows of your two-front battle.

Look before you leap: A checklist for whistleblowers

1. Consult your loved ones

Talk with your spouse, significant other, family, or close friends about your decisions. They will be your support group in what follows. If they do not agree with your decisions, you may want to reconsider this path.

2. Check for skeletons in your closet

If there is something in your past that you do not want on the front page of a newspaper, reconsider your decision.

One practical step is to make a copy of the complete contents of your personnel file as insurance that your employer cannot later slip new but backdated “dirt” into it.

3. Document, document, document—carefully

Keep lots of records, including a daily diary, of all relevant information. Your success can depend on the strength of the paper trail you create. Be prepared that you are taking a major risk in using institutional records. You could face criminal charges for unlawfully removing government records.

A safer tactic could be hiding copies of paper records at the organization in a location that won’t attract attention (such as archives). In this way, when the organization denies their existence, the whistleblower can direct legal authorities to where they are.

4. Be aware of how you use your employer’s resources

Don’t make disclosures on your work equipment or work time—period. Make it clear that you don’t speak for the organization when meeting with media or other external entities or individuals, even off the clock.

5. Check to see who, if anyone, will support your account

More than anything, solidarity will be your greatest asset. Find allies and use intermediaries when you can. By using a third party when you deal with external organizations or publications, you can ensure your anonymity as well as the security of your information.

6. Consult an attorney early

Be careful to find an attorney who respects your goals as a whistleblower and be sure that you trust and are compatible with your attorney.

7. Choose your battleground carefully

Pick the time and conditions where you will have the most impact. Release evidence incrementally—not all at once (this way your story will continue to appear in headlines and in the news cycle).

8. Have a well-thought-out plan

Try to anticipate the organization’s response AND how it will be perceived by government oversight committees, the media, etc.

9. Plan an exit strategy

You need to think about how this will affect your career trajectory in one, two, or even ten years. Plan where you want to be professionally and geographically and how you expect to arrive at these places, given what may occur as a result of blowing the whistle.

Often the better way: The path of anonymous whistleblowing

Before preparing to risk your career, consider other ways to shed light on wrongdoing. Remember, the longer you can keep the spotlight on the issue and not you, the greater the chance that the problem will be addressed.

Anonymous whistleblowing is not disloyalty or baseless accusations. It is an attempt to guarantee prolonged access to evidence (by not exposing yourself and potentially losing security clearances, privileges, etc.) and ensure focus remains on the message and not the messenger.

We have seen that whistleblowing carries very serious risks and should not be taken lightly. In the next chapter, we will begin to outline the importance and process of anonymous whistleblowing: how you can maintain anonymity while still communicating the very real issues contained within an organization.

READ CHAPTER 1→

Whistleblowing is not for the fainthearted. For more on what to expect and how to prepare yourself, read our full survival guide, Caught Between Conscience and Career. Jump into Chapter 1 now.

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing.

We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles.