Q. How do you avoid conflicts of interest between journalism and content writing clients?
A. Right now, my journalism work focuses mainly on topics like space, technology, archaeology, nature, environment, and history. My work for academic and corporate clients is more focused on business, medicine, health, the arts, and education. Separating my work by topic helps me avoid crossing paths with the same people and organizations I may have worked with as a content writer. It also means that I don’t have to limit who I can/cannot speak to when I am acting as a journalist.
There are cases where my beats in journalism do overlap with topics I’ve written about for academic and corporate clients. Since a topic like health is broad and far-reaching, sometimes these overlaps are unavoidable. However, I will turn down assignments from journalism clients if there is a direct overlap with an academic or corporate client I have worked for in the past or present, either as an employee or contractor. I’ll also be certain to disclose any potential conflicts of interest with my editors when there are grey areas.
I will also likely turn down a journalism assignment if I feel the subject matter is too closely related to an industry or institution that I’m involved with as a content writer. However, there are some exceptions, and each potential COI will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
A. Right now, my journalism work focuses mainly on topics like space, technology, archaeology, nature, environment, and history. My work for academic and corporate clients is more focused on business, medicine, health, the arts, and education. Separating my work by topic helps me avoid crossing paths with the same people and organizations I may have worked with as a content writer. It also means that I don’t have to limit who I can/cannot speak to when I am acting as a journalist.
There are cases where my beats in journalism do overlap with topics I’ve written about for academic and corporate clients. Since a topic like health is broad and far-reaching, sometimes these overlaps are unavoidable. However, I will turn down assignments from journalism clients if there is a direct overlap with an academic or corporate client I have worked for in the past or present, either as an employee or contractor. I’ll also be certain to disclose any potential conflicts of interest with my editors when there are grey areas.
I will also likely turn down a journalism assignment if I feel the subject matter is too closely related to an industry or institution that I’m involved with as a content writer. However, there are some exceptions, and each potential COI will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
