Comments on: Ownership Rights

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:23:31 +0000

Yo, don't you LOVE the "Oh, but you can't use that" interview? I have had one myself, but luckily it was one I could omit easily. Waste of almighty time, though.

I've not had too many agents turn me down. I've had the insurer's legal department go catatonic once or twice at the thought of their people talking willy nilly. Yes, workers comp IS the hotbed of controversy, so they think! Sheesh. Lighten up, people!

By: Yo

Yo — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:03:38 +0000

I've had the approval problem with insurance agents. Some captive agents have to get their compliance department involved. Since I record interviews I usually just send the MP3 to the compliance officer and get the go ahead, but I have had to cut some people that I've interviewed out of the story when their compliance department did not get back to me in time. Pain in the rumpuss is what it is.

Oh, one time I interviewed a woman in person. Told her where I was from and what I was doing there, showed her my card, took notes on what she said and then, after the interview, she said, "I don't want you to use any of that in the paper." Um... maybe you could have said that when I introduced myself?

I can't say I've been led anywhere by an interviewee before. Can't wait until that happens... I'm not as pleasant as you are ;)

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:56:04 +0000

Gabriella, I hope you just cut out his comments and kept going. If he's not your sole source it's easier. I had a case recently in which the source wanted to review his quotes. Since the story was a Q&A, I granted him that. I didn't feel right printing that story without his approval. If he'd been one of three people, no way, but when he WAS the article, I made that exception.

Kim, does she not realize it wasn't up to her to rescind consent? Talking with you in the first place was her consent. No take backs. :)

Paula, I had a PR dude try that with me once. No way!

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:33:30 +0000

My worst experience with that was last fall (and fully recounted in my comments to one of your blog posts).

What I dislike is when the interviewee or their publicist tries to make it sound as if I'm being the unreasonable one. "But this is how we ALWAYS do it!" Right. Only when people are stupid or gullible enough to let you get away with it. When this last woman tried that, I said, "Then apparently you have no idea how the editorial process works." Of course, she never stopped talking, so I doubt she heard me.

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:19:51 +0000

Yes! I once interviewed a book publisher for a magazine article and when she asked to review the article before I sent it to my editor, I innocently saw no problem. BIG MISTAKE.

She began telling me that I should be including A B and C in my article - even though her suggestions were NOT within the scope of the topic. She got so heated when I tried explaining that I was unable to expand the story to include her ideas that she refused to consent to having her interview/comments published. I had to let the editor deal with her. Luckily it all worked out.

The editor was really quite understanding and advised me not to let sources review an article before publication in the future to save myself that kind of headache. Whew - And I thought I was a control freak!

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:06:42 +0000

Hi Lori.

I've have every one of those experiences, but I especially liked the one recenly where the guy tried to get me to have his legal department "approve" the article. Whah?!

I'd never heard that one before, and I don't remember what I said. Whatever it was, the guy backed down and wrote me an email shortly after telling me his legal department said no review was necessary.

Wow, thanks, pal. I can now go forward with the article that has nothing to do with your company and easily could have been done with a source other than you.

People never cease to amaze!