Every now and again something happens, that when you stop being POd, you realize it might be one of those teachable moment things. Suggestions for folks doing interviews. Accurately quote your subject. Don't make up a question and "quote" for your subject after they've read and approved the final draft. Don't put words in their mouth. Don't use their quotes in other articles without their permission, especially if that article is promoting your own business. If you're writing a promotional piece for your business, don't name drop from among your professional colleagues. Don't name drop organizations to which you don't belong. If you do, make the clear distinction that you're not affiliated but do have a good reason to mention them. These things, at the very least, lead the reader to believe the individual or group was somehow a participant in the development of the article. Or at the worst, that the individual or organization endorses the subject of the article. Suggestions for folks getting interviewed. Agree to interview with whatever stipulations you feel best protect YOUR interest. Require the ability to see the final version that will be published. Insist that the content and your quotes are not be used for any other article without your advanced permission. Getting all this in writing, of course. All any of us have are our good names in this profession. I, for one, don't enjoy seeing my name show up, without my permission, in promotional pieces for other businesses, events, or organizations. best regards, Dee -- Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist (sm), Certificate 903 Contract Genealogist, US Navy Casualty POW/MIA Branch Co-Director, Forensic Genealogy Institute http://www.forensicgenealogists.com/forensic-genealogy-institute.html Mail address - PO Box 1085, Manvel TX 77578 Telephone/fax 281-595-3090 www.forensicgenealogyservices.com/NavyCasualty.html www.facebook.com/forensicgenealogist Certified Genealogist (CG) is a service mark (sm) of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, conferred to associates who consistently meet ethical and competency standards in accord with peer-reviewed evaluations every five years, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

I'll second all of this. When I was in high school I was president of my Explorers post and was interviewed by the in-house publication of our sponsoring company. What they printed never came out of my mouth! It was typical PR-style pablum, and when I challenged them they simply stated this was standard practice in the industry. That explanation didn't fly with me then, and it wouldn't now. If you're going to quote, do it accurately! Dave Liesse Skingco Services, LLC On 1/28/2013 15:10, Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist wrote: > Every now and again something happens, that when you stop being POd, you realize it might be one of those teachable moment things. > > Suggestions for folks doing interviews. Accurately quote your subject. Don't make up a question and "quote" for your subject after they've read and approved the final draft. Don't put words in their mouth. Don't use their quotes in other articles without their permission, especially if that article is promoting your own business. > > If you're writing a promotional piece for your business, don't name drop from among your professional colleagues. Don't name drop organizations to which you don't belong. If you do, make the clear distinction that you're not affiliated but do have a good reason to mention them. These things, at the very least, lead the reader to believe the individual or group was somehow a participant in the development of the article. Or at the worst, that the individual or organization endorses the subject of the article. > > Suggestions for folks getting interviewed. Agree to interview with whatever stipulations you feel best protect YOUR interest. Require the ability to see the final version that will be published. Insist that the content and your quotes are not be used for any other article without your advanced permission. Getting all this in writing, of course. > > All any of us have are our good names in this profession. I, for one, don't enjoy seeing my name show up, without my permission, in promotional pieces for other businesses, events, or organizations. > > best regards, > > Dee >