I didn’t realize this post would be so long, so if you want to skip to the discussion on ethics, answer these questions in the comments or respond to others’ thoughts:
What are the ethics of publishing? Are they different for agents, editors, authors, publicists, and publishers? Does the Golden Rule not apply anymore, or is it now do whatever it takes to sell the most books?
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As a journalism student in college, one topic was consistently drummed into our heads: ethics. The principle goes like this: if people are to trust the news you bring them as accurate, you must collect it in an ethical manner without distorting it or passing on known falsehoods. Makes sense, right?
Now that I’ve been working in publishing for the past six years, I’ve noticed that there isn’t as much emphasis on ethics. Though we hear of writers who plagiarize, lie, and do a number of other unethical (and sometimes illegal) things, it doesn’t seem as though there is as large an outcry as when a newsman (or woman) does the same thing. (An excellent example is the initial outcry against James Frey, but then a year later Oprah publicly apologized to him.)
I bring this up because last night a friend brought a very questionable “contest” on a writers blog to my attention. I’ll share the website and contest information not to humiliate the author, since I’m sure she did it with good (though selfish) intentions. More, I want to show the issue itself, as well as the public reaction.
NOTE: Please do not post any unkind or inflammatory comments on the blog. It will do nothing to further the conversation and will only stir up heated emotions.
I’ll let you read the details of the contest for yourself, though if the author decides to delete the post, let me know and I’ll add the text of it here. Read it here. My comment is on the second comment page near the bottom. I only named myself Michelle since I didn’t want to wake up to hundreds of angry/rude emails and tweets.
My initial reaction to this was disbelief. Why would a reputable agent agree to such a scheme? I checked and the agency is not a part of AAR, though that doesn’t mean they don’t adhere to the code of ethics. Also, previous to opening her own agency, she worked for several agencies that do belong to AAR, so she would be familiar with their canon. Here’s the text of the AAR Canon of Ethics relating to reading fees:
Reading charges. Members may not charge clients or potential clients for reading and evaluating literary works, including outlines, proposals and partial or complete manuscripts. Members may not benefit, directly or indirectly, from charges levied for such services by any other person or entity. There are two exceptions to this rule:
- Members may asked to be reimbursed for the actual cost of returning materials.
- Members may read or evaluate a writer’s work at a conference or other event where writers are charged separately for individual consultations.
The AAR believes that the practice of charging for readings is open to serious abuse and may reflect adversely on our profession. The exception for conferences is granted for these reasons:
- The agent is not acting independently but within the context of an independent writers’ conference.
- The potential benefit to writers cannot be duplicated in another manner.
This exception does not in any way dilute the AAR’s belief that literary agents should not charge clients and potential clients for reading and evaluating literary works in the ordinary course of business.
(http://aaronline.org/canon)
The author is obviously trying to sell books, and it may well be that she doesn’t realize the ethics involved in this situation, but the agent should know better.
After careful consideration, I decided to report this contest to Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware. That action wasn’t intended to tattle on the author/agent, but more to spread the word that these kinds of activities aren’t okay. If one author got away with something like this, I can easily see a flood of others duplicating the effort.
Of course, I knew the moment I acted that I would be lambasted and attacked by devoted followers of the author, as well as people who didn’t realize the implications of such a contest. The only comment I will make on this case is that, though many don’t see a problem with this contest, isn’t it the same as Fergie selling access to Prince Andrew? Money exchanged to gain access to an importan person?
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Over the past year or so, I’ve realized that I can’t stay quiet when something I know is illegal or unethical. For a long time, I’d think about doing something, then deciding not to because it wasn’t my place to interfere. Each time I hoped a braver individual would step forward and call the person or group out for their actions. So this is where it brings me.
The larger issue here is that of ethics within publishing. I can list dozens of cases of questionable ethics within the industry, and those are the ones I can think of immediately. There are surely thousands more like them. Situations like OJ Simpson’s canceled book If I Did It, James Frey’s “enhanced” autobiography, and Last Train to Hiroshima with (allegedly) fake interviews.
So here’s my question: What are the ethics of publishing? Are they different for agents, editors, authors, publicists, and publishers? Does the Golden Rule not apply anymore, or is it now do whatever it takes to sell the most books?
I’m really curious to hear what people think and how they decide how to act. There is so much potential for abuse within publishing, not just with author/editor/agent relationships, but those between the author/publisher and readers, as well as with the public in general. Are we responsible for everything we put out there, whether we know it’s a lie or not? Does it absolve us from responsibility if the action was made by someone else, even though we were concerned about the ethics/legality of the situation?
I have my own opinions, which I’ll hold off from sharing until others have joined the conversation. And please, tell me your thoughts on how I should have reacted to this particular case. Is it more important to let some things slide, or should questionable activities always be brought to light?
Please respond, but also remember to treat differing opinions with respect. And name-calling is never appropriate.
