Month: July 2008

I’ve been engaged in a discussion on the Writer Beware blog about the egregious ethical lapses committed by Affaire de Coeur magazine in their editorial coverage (running cover stories and reviews about books published by their advertising director, requiring some publishers and authors to buy advertising in exchange for reviews, etc.). I thought it might be helpful to share the portion of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics that applies to the relationship between editorial and advertising content:

Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know. Journalists should:

— Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity
or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
— Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
— Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

The SPJ Code of Ethics is voluntarily embraced
by thousands of writers, editors and other news professionals. The present version of the code was adopted by the 1996 SPJ National Convention, after months of study and debate among the Society’s members.
Sigma Delta Chi’s first Code of Ethics was borrowed from the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1926. In 1973, Sigma Delta Chi wrote its own code, which was revised in 1984, 1987 and 1996.

Most newspapers and magazines have adopted similar guidelines. For example, here are the guidelines for publications produced by the Mystery Writers of America (I should disclose that I was on the committee that drafted these guidelines):

For Articles, columns, interviews and essays:

• –         
  The editor should maintain honesty, integrity,
  accuracy thoroughness and fairness in reporting and editing of articles,
  headlines and graphics.

• –         
  There should be a clear distinction between
  news/feature stories and opinion pieces. It 
  should be made clear that any opinions expressed are those of the author
  and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mystery Writers of America or the
  local chapter.

• –         
  The reporter or author of editorial content in
  the newsletter must avoid any conflicts of interest, real or perceived, with
  regard to the subject of his articles. All potential conflicts should be
  disclosed (eg: an author interviewing his own publisher or editor).

• –         
  The reporter or author of editorial content in
  the newsletter should  refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special
  treatment related to the articles they are writing (eg: free travel and
  registration at a conference in return for the article).

• –         
  Unless a piece is clearly identified as “opinion,”
  personal views such as religious beliefs or political ideology should be kept separate
  from the subjects being covered. Articles should not be approached with overt
  or hidden agendas (eg: someone who hates cozies shouldn’t be writing about the
  popularity of cozy mysteries).

• –         
  Competing points of view should be balanced and
  fairly characterized.

• –         
  Persons who are the subject of adverse news  stories or features should be allowed a
  reasonable opportunity to respond to the adverse information before the story
  is published.

• –         
  Fairness means that all important views on a
  subject are presented and treated even-handedly.

• –         
  Authors should always cite their sources and
  never plagiarize.

For Advertising:

• –         
  Editorial impartiality and integrity should
  never be compromised by the relationship and the chapter should retain
  editorial control of ALL content. Selection of editorial topics, treatment of
  issues, interpretation and other editorial decisions must NOT be determined by
  advertisers.

• –         
  Editors must never permit advertisers to review
  articles prior to publication.

• –         
  Advertisers and potential advertisers  must never receive favorable editorial
  treatment because of their economic value to the newsletter.

• –         
  Editors must have the right to review, prior to
  publication, all sponsored content and other advertiser supplied material.

• –         
  The choice of advertisers (conferences,
  self-publishers, editorial services, etc.) should not bring the MWA into
  disrepute or imply an endorsement by our
  organization of any of the goods or services being advertised. This is
  especially important when it comes to self-publishing firms, agency representation,
  editorial services, writing contests, and writers conferences.

• –         
  There should be a clear and unequivocal separation
  between the advertising and editorial content of the newsletter. Editors have
  an obligation to readers to make clear which content has been paid for, which
  is sponsored, and which is independent editorial material.

For “Non-Paid” Promotion

• –         
  Editors should carefully review all “non-paid”
  promotional content,  such as lists of
  upcoming events and contests, to assure the events and organizers are reputable
  and legitimate. The printing of these announcements in our newsletter can imply
  to some readers an endorsement by the MWA.

• –         
  Occasionally, some newsletters post news about
  publishers accepting submissions.  Editors
  should review the MWA’s List of Approved Publishers before printing material of
  this nature.

I find it disgraceful that Affaire de Coeur and the Romantic Times require some publishers and authors to buy advertisements in exchange for having their books reviewed. Not only is it unethical conduct, it’s also unfair to small presses & authors … and brings into serious doubt the editorial credibility of both magazines.

Affaire de Coeur doesn’t just sell their reviews to advertisers, they also sell other kinds of coverage. Here’s an excerpt from the Affaire De Coeur website page that explains their various advertising packages:

“To compliment your ad and review we also offer interviews or articles. If you would like an interview let us know 3 months in advance so it will go in the same issue as your review and ad. We accept articles at any time, we need articles 3 months in advance. All articles must receive approval on subject matter.”

“We will not accept submissions less than three months prior to the date of publication unless it is associated with an ad. We do not review books after publication unless it is done in association with an ad”

If you buy an advertisement with Affaire de Coeur, they will “compliment” it with articles and reviews. They will gladly review your book after publication, or if you submit it late, if you buy an ad. There’s clearly a connection between buying ads and getting coverage. They aren’t even subtle about it.

But do they inform their readers which reviews, articles and interviews were published because of their connection with advertising? Of course not.

Basic ethical conduct requires that any review or article that is printed in exchange for advertising should be labeled as such so the reader knows just how “objective” the coverage really is (just how “honest” can a review be if it’s paid for?)

And if a reporter or editor has a financial stake in the books or companies being written about or reviewed, that should also be clearly disclosed, because it’s a conflict-of-interest and has an obvious impact on the “objectivity” of the reporting and placement of the stories.

But those disclosures aren’t being made to the readers of Affaire de Coeur or Romantic Times. If I was a reader or writer of romance fiction, I would be outraged about the conduct of these two magazines. That is why I have refused to acknowledge Affaire de Coeur’s “five star review” of my book.

UPDATE: I just stumbled on a November 2007 blog post on EREC that shows just how much coverage in Affaire de Coeur that Light Sword received in one issue compared to other small press advertisers — which is no surprise, since Light Sword’s co-owner is the magazine’s advertising director:

Light Sword Publishing
* 3 pages of advertising
*
6.5 pages of content (3 being an article that is clearly
self-promotional, aimed at authors not readers and available for free on their website)
* 1.5 pages of book review space

Medallion Press
* 2.5 pages of advertising
* 2.5 pages of book review space

Parker
* 0.25 pages of advertising
* 0.75 pages of book review space

Dafina
* 0.25 pages of advertising
* 0.75 pages of book review space

Torquere Press
* 1 page of advertising.

My point? I’m not sure. Perhaps that advertisers should buy ad space.
Readers should ‘buy’ the other content by having it aimed squarely at
their interests. 26 pages of large press book reviews, fine. 10 pages
puffing the advertisers wares… not so fine. If you buy ads you can
apparently also write the magazine’s content
and get your small press books reviewed. So if you want only large
press book reviews at least half the magazine will be of interest to
you. The rest seems to be almost entirely at the pleasure of the
advertisers.