Comments on: Conflicts of Interests and Clients Who Request Them

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:51:13 +0000

When I did more business writing, I ran into a couple of publications that insisted their advertisers be prominently features as sources. They gave me a list culled directly from their sales department!

I always sought out some of my own sources. The better editors there left those in. But they were soon replaced by a couple of sycophants whose noses were shoved so far up the publisher's posterior that they would re-write decent articles to focus on their advertisers. More than once I wanted my name removed from the final edit. As soon as I realized these idiots were always going to totally rework my articles in order to suck up to their advertisers, I stopped writing for them.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:25:52 +0000

I quit a magazine gig when they told me I could only mention their sponsors/affiliates/advertisers in my articles. In fact, I HAD to mention them.

By my definition, that's writing an advertorial, not an article. Different genre, different pay scale than an article.

No thanks.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:23:16 +0000

You'd be surprised how many people don't see it as such, Lillie. Maybe I'm getting too old, but I remember when people would be outraged at this type of arrangment. Now it's becoming commonplace among PR firms.

By: Lillie Ammann

Lillie Ammann — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:24:24 +0000

Lori,

I've never encountered anything like this, but I agree it's a conflict of interest.