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Topic: Client/Editor/Freelancer Relations
| Author | Message |
| NewbiePR | Posted – 3/15/2007 2:20:35 PM | show profile Background: New Publicist out of school. Out of the classes I have taken, they didn't cover this situation. I have recently taken on a new client. They were contacted by the editor of well known magazine to do an interview and had already proceeded to do the interview. This is my first time handling a client who is already mid-way thru a process with a writer/editor. I have the names of the writer and the editor of the magazine and verified that they are in fact staff of that magazine. My question to the group is more geared toward roles and responsibilities of the team. a) does any legal paperwork (agreement) need to be signed on the clients end when doing interviews and what is the business practice when having clients conduct interviews? b) Is the lawyer supposed to be involved to ensure that the magazine doesn't twist or miscontrue what the client has said or is that my job. c) What is my role as the publicist, coming in on the tail end and how should I proceed? |
| maphop | Posted – 3/16/2007 9:42:52 AM | show profile Maybe I'm confused as to what you're asking but let me try: why would an attorney be involved at any point in either your relationship with the client or with the client having done an interview with a magazine? Unless the client is involved in a legal battle (in which case their attorney should be advising them on whether they can speak publicly about either a pending case or the outcome of a case) or there's an issue in the client's relationship with this particular publication (previous concerns over misstatements, slander allegations, etc.) I simply can't imagine where an attorney's input would be required. Of course, that doesn't extend to you drafting client agreements or contracts with your own attorney. Absolutely DO contact an attorney to draft your agreements. Your role at this point in this particular interview is conditional. If your contract is already signed by the new client and you've received your retainer payment, I'd certainly call the publication, introduce yourself and make your contact information known for fact-checking, image requests, etc. but otherwise this gig was started before you became their consultant. I suspect from the questions that we're missing a key ingredient in what makes this client or situation unique and perhaps with more information the folks on the board could answer you more directly. At face value, this is simply a basic interview. |
