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Topic: Writing About People Who Don't Want to be...
| Author | Message |
| Team America | Posted – 1/4/2008 1:46:17 PM | show profile Writing About People Who Don't Want to be Written About Can someone point me to some guidelines on common sense ethics , legality and etiquette around this? Thanks. |
| snuffleupagus | Posted – 1/5/2008 6:02:34 PM | show profile Those are usually the most interesting people to write about. But, yes, you have to be a little more careful about exposing their latest foibles than if you were writing about, say, one of the Clintons. If the information is already in the public record or on an official document then you are usually safe. If you dig into Joe Shmoe's personal life then you should technically be prepared to explain how this benefits the "public interest." This is a grey area, of course, and often where the best stories lie. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 1/5/2008 9:14:11 PM | show profile Basically, the rules are: Does the story have merit and is important for the public to know? Are you being truthful? Have you give the person the chance to give his viewpoint? For many stories, it's irrelevant whether the subject wants the story to appear. I have done personality of profiles of people who refused to speak to me. |
