This is a topic I was trying to address for a while, except that I kept finding the subject to be rather murky. What I'm learning, though, is that it's actually NOT murky, it's just rather not-fun.

As a freelancer, you might be entitled to the occasional giftie now and then. Some free purses in the hopes that you'll write them up, a little knick-knack to say thank you for the nice profile. It could feel that since you're working independently, you might not be under the same protocol as newspaper or magazine staff, who have more laid-out conflict of interest issues. But just because you don't have a boss looking over your shoulder doesn't mean you shouldn't work under the same standards.

If you're working on anything that might seem like it's approaching a conflict of interest, don't go there (if I may dust off an old chestnut). It might not matter to you but it could to your editor. Trust me: nothing is as fun as busting your butt to pitch a story and then work on it only to have your editor question your relation to the subject after you've turned in your second draft. Don't risk ruining your reputation. Don't waste your time.

I spoke with a lot of other writers on this topic and one particular freelance writer put it very eloquently:

"Graft is graft is graft. I come from a newspaper background, (and four years of j-school) where the rules about accepting gifts are absolute. Even accepting a cup of coffee from a sweet old lady was frowned upon. Yes, yes-- who is going to be bought for a cup of coffee? But even the mere appearance of conflict of interest is a heinous problem. We are in a profession that is constantly under attack by a public that has lost trust in us. I mean, I've heard reporters compared with ambulance-chasing attorneys in terms of ethics. Do we really need to do more to feed this misconception?

"If you call yourself a journalist, or a reporter, or simply 'freelancer,' there is a code of ethics that we all should abide by. Why give anyone even the slightest opportunity to question why you gave a glowing review to one book or movie or kitchen cleaner? When you're done with the book, donate it. Get flowers from a source? I became quite beloved by a local nursing home, because I always took my 'gifts' there. Your ethics may never come into question, and because you're not working in a newsroom, no one might ever see what you do with your graft. But remember what motivates companies etc. to offer these gifts. It's not the goodness of their hearts, or because they are so sincerely thankful. They want something. And they may believe that from you, they've gotten it. Perception is everything."

Meanwhile, especially if you are a member, but even if you're not, brush up on the code of ethics at the SPJ for a refresher.