I was kickin' it on the Freelance Success board and found a good post by webs hostress Jennie Phipps, who graciously allowed me to reprint. The topic was, what makes a good source?

10 reasons to fall in love with a source (and make him look like a star)

1. He knows what he's talking about and can speak with enthusiasm.

2. He understands that his story is part of a larger story and can help me identify how it fits.

3. He calls when he says he will, or he's sitting by the phone when I call him.

4. He does his best to speak without using a lot of industry jargon.

5. He knows the difference between talking about his product and giving a sales pitch.

6. He keeps to the subject and doesn't ramble off on confusing and
time-consuming side paths or worse yet, tirades.

7. He speaks at a medium pace -- not so fast I can't keep up and not so slowly that I'm drumming my fingers on the desk. If he has a heavy accent, he's particularly patient with my efforts to make sure I get it right.

8. He never forgets that this is an interview for publication. He doesn't tell me things then regret it later or worse yet, deny it later.

9. He knows that I may not be 100 percent up to speed on his topic, but he's never patronizing.

10. He has a sense of humor.