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Topic: Using a pseudonym?
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| Author | Message |
| Zanke | Posted – 7/4/2005 3:43:32 PM | show profile I am about to begin writing for a magazine under a pseudonym, something I have zero experience with. Can anyone out there advise on reporting? Is it kosher to do email/phone interviews or information requests under my nom de plume? I'd rather keep my real identity from readers as well as sources, though would of course reveal my affiliation with the publication. |
| JimmyG | Posted – 7/5/2005 12:55:23 PM | show profile My sense of morality in the world of magaine journalism is pretty flexible, but this seems unseemly to me. Honesty is the essential core of what we do, and if you want to shield your identity from your sources, how can you expect them to be honest with you? |
| VillageGal | Posted – 7/5/2005 2:21:35 PM | show profile Why are you doing reporting under a psuedonym? |
| -bob- | Posted – 7/5/2005 5:50:34 PM | show profile Hey Zanke: If you really feel you must use a pseudonym (for whatever reason), be consistent, and use it throughout the whole process. Much simpler that way. ------ -bob- |
| Zanke | Posted – 7/5/2005 5:51:41 PM | show profile I should add that this is not in-depth reporting, and not about personal issues. Kind of like asking clothing companies for details of their products, and permission to use photos. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 7/5/2005 9:51:18 PM | show profile so, I take it you'll be importuning fashion companies for free pix and stuff? By all means use a fake name for the whole process, from initial source contact to byline. I've known several magazine writers who lived double lives to pay the bills. |
| clare04 | Posted – 7/5/2005 10:05:04 PM | show profile pseudonyms These are legal at something called the copyright association or register, according to the Web. There you have to register yourself/real person PLUS the pseudonym with them. It's all completely above board. *Important to keep in mind difference between pseudonyms on submissions and those on magazine/publication articles that you have 'reported.' The latter seems very open to definition re. how this works (?) as I have never done this -- but know of one real pro that used to do this a lot when she worked fulltime for a newspaper as an editor by day (and night!)... |
| arewrites | Posted – 7/5/2005 11:13:18 PM | show profile I don't think the question was whether pseudonyms were legal, which of course they are. The question strikes me as being one of ethics: is it okay to call someone and pump them for honest information while not telling them who you really are? Uh.... no. |
| Zanke | Posted – 7/6/2005 10:56:18 AM | show profile Follow-up So how have writers who have used pen names (if any of you are reading this) gone about reporting their stories? I know plenty of writers have used pseudonyms, whether to write in different kinds of fields, or because wanted to do stuff that paid well but didn't necessarily boost their reputations. |
| EZWriter1 | Posted – 7/6/2005 11:24:51 AM | show profile the envelope please... I think a number of writers took the time to answer your first question and, in so doing, have also answered your second question. Nary any feedback from you, no less a ''good point, thanks..'' When prospects are interviewed for an article, no less participating on a BB, it's reasonable to have some give, along with the take... |
| VillageGal | Posted – 7/6/2005 12:26:45 PM | show profile Well, I don't know any writers who do what you are describing. You are going to call people using a fake name, ask them to reply, but expect them to use their real name. Is that right? If so, I think that is unethical. |
| DFS | Posted – 7/6/2005 12:40:52 PM | show profile Once or twice, I've used a pseudonym on a published piece because I was an editor at a magazine that frowned on outside freelancing (even if it was for a non-competing pub). But I didn't do the reporting under a fake name. I was me researching, reporting, and writing, but then I told the magazine to use my non de plume. |
| cali1296 | Posted – 7/6/2005 1:31:18 PM | show profile A gossip columnist who used to work at my paper used to feed items to one of the major celebrity glossies and get paid for it, but the editors here found out and made him stop. He continued to give stuff to the mag but used a fake name so the editors here wouldn't know it was him. This sounds unethical to me. |
| clare04 | Posted – 7/6/2005 1:48:40 PM | show profile amazing .... Yeah, you can't do that. Espec if you signed one of those non-compete thingos when you were hired full-time. The gal I know that did the pseudonym worked as an editor and *wrote for magazines (full-length features about totally other topics) all over the world under a pseudonym that was very close to her own name. That way she could keep up her writing career. She is known -- fondly, I might add -- in journ circles in at least three-four countries... |
| Zanke | Posted – 7/6/2005 1:52:32 PM | show profile All interesting...thanks for the help. Though I do find the person who offers no advice yet is offended at questioners...well, offensive. |
| even_newer-id | Posted – 7/6/2005 2:57:00 PM | show profile If a peudonym is used, readers should be informed a pseudonym is being used. Anything that is signed by a real person always has more credibility and it's not fair to hide the fact that the author is suing a nom de plume. Sources too have the right not to be lied to about your real identity. You expect them to give their real name and they expect you to use yours. No credible news organization would allow a reporter to report using a false name. |
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