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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Ethics: Gifts
Steel Brooks, Student/Intern
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Missoula | MT | United States | Posted: 5:19 PM on 10.04.10 |
->> Hi everyone, I wanted to pose a question for a class I'm in right now. I'm doing a presentation on journalists taking gifts from sources/subjects and I wanted to get some input from working journalists.
In essence the question is where to draw the line. If you were to go do a photo story on a family, would you accept a cup of water? How about a meal? I was recently shooting a music promoter and he gave me a ticket to an upcoming show, I never went, but I did take the ticket. Is that over the line? Should we take free food from sporting events? But what if your subject wanted to give you a car?
Where do you or your publication draw the line? I know that some papers have a donation box, where people put gifts that they were given, and the paper donates all of them at the end of the month/week/whenever.
I'd like to use some of the responses from this board in my presentation, so if you're not okay with being directly quoted, please let me know and I'll make sure not to use it. You're also more than welcome to send me an email/pm if you don't want to post a response here.
Thank you,
Steel Brooks
University of Montana |
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Corey Perrine, Photographer
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Augusta | GA | USA | Posted: 6:21 PM on 10.04.10 |
->> My personal policy is nothing more than a glass of water.
However, if it's "Old Lady Anderson's" prized-winning muffins and you're going a feature on her, and she continues to insist you take a bite, despite politely declining, I don't think you'll burn in "journalistic hell" for doing so.
As for bigger items (things over 3 dollars), that's a huge no no.
I was at an assignment where this kind Spanish family insisted I sit down for lunch. I politely declined, they said, "Sit." I didn't argue but told them of our ethics policy, they didn't care. I assume it was a cultural thing. There was also a language barrier, so I don't think they fully understood either. In my mind, I had to to chalk it up as an exception to the rule. Despite a wonderful meal I felt uncomfortable afterward.
My personal best response when dealing with small gift matters is always, "Can I buy it from you?" You'll be surprised at how much better you and the other person feels after a legal exchange. As for big gift matters, huge no no.
As for your question about the ticket, I would not have taken it. No way. But I don't know your circumstances. Could have been a commercial assignment. If I was shooting for a journalistic/editorial entity, no way. If I'm shooting a wedding or commercial assignment, that's different.
As for food from sporting events, if the entire media is being fed, then it's okay. I suppose you could argue that this is hypocritical. However, I'm okay with it since a huge corporation is budgeting for it, expecting it and it's been done that way for years.
Recently I was on assignment at a golf tournament. A man asked me if I could do him a favor for him for money with my camera. I said I couldn't. I didn't even get into details with him. He replied, "Nobody will know." I responded, "I will."
In the end know the rules and then know the few times in your career the exception to the rules. Just don't make a habit of it, you could fall down a slippery slope you can't return from. |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 7:33 PM on 10.04.10 |
->> Corey hit on it pretty good.
I've found if doing a story on, say, ice cream or some specialty food item or wine or something, more so for the writer probably, tasting something isn't going to be too bad, but it might help the story I'd think. Being able to describe better, etc.
The cultural thing is weird too. I've found when I've shot Asian restaurants, especially sushi, it's a cultural thing having to do with offering people food and I guess it is seen as offensive if you say no. I dunno.
If people offer me food, I say I've already eaten.
As for music, if I'm covering a show for work, I have a photo pass to shoot the bands, so I don't need a ticket. |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | usa | Posted: 8:23 PM on 10.04.10 |
->> I generally agree with Corey, but maybe not as strict.
For me, and I'm no longer a "working journalist" so take what I say with a grain of salt, I use the common sense approach of asking, "If there was full transparency, would my readers view this story differently? Would my editor approve of the way in which I behaved, of the items I accepted? Am I receiving special treatment?"
That said, I may take some liberties that Corey wouldn't. I think when it comes to ethics, there are some things that are clearly right; some that are clearly wrong; and everything else is somewhere in the middle.
As a strategy, I find that asking for a glass of water in many situations, specifically when entering people's homes or businesses paves a nice little path where I can do my job without offending the hospitality of my host. I know here in Nebraska, people feel more comfortable after they have served you. By taking that glass of water, the subjects comfort level raises to a place where we can get some business done. |
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Sam Morris, Photographer
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Henderson (Las Vegas) | NV | USA | Posted: 9:10 PM on 10.04.10 |
->> At my paper, before the staff was slashed and combined with our weekly and other publications, we were not allowed to accept anything worth more than $1. We could accept it if the general public were offered the same thing for free, and that caveat cut out 99% of the freebies offered. I have no idea what the official policy is now, but I still work by the old rules.
As far as being offered food, you need to use your judgment. In an environment like a home, you accept the food or drink. Turn the tables and think about how you would feel if food or drink you offered to a stranger was declined. It doesn't matter what culture you are dealing with, food and drink are a common denominator and a gesture of good will. As a journalist, you are getting something, images or information, from a stranger for free. The right thing to do is accept what they offer.
As far as food shoots at restaurants, I only shoot that for our magazine (if you have stayed on the Strip, it's the free mag in your room) which is essentially a big ad. In that case, since I am basically shooting food for an ad, I have no problem accepting an offer of a dinner. I haven't yet, probably because the journalist in me keeps me from calling the number they gave me when they said "Come on back with your wife, dinner's on us."
Like most things, common sense and good judgment will set you in the right direction. |
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Steel Brooks, Student/Intern
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Missoula | MT | United States | Posted: 1:40 AM on 10.06.10 |
| ->> Thanks a lot for your responses! As Corey said, taking food at a sports game may be hypocritical, but what makes it different from another story? Obviously it won't affect the outcome of the game, or how you cover the action, but if a subject buys me a cup of coffee before a shoot/interview, that probably won't change the outcome of the story either. Thanks again for your input! |
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Butch Miller, Photographer
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Lock Haven | PA | USA | Posted: 1:41 PM on 10.06.10 |
->> I don't think is is an ethical infraction when you are offered food or beverages while covering a sporting event ... as long as all media present is offered the the same fare ... if I were offered prime rib, and everyone else was eating hot dogs ... I'd turn down the meal .... otherwise, I dig in ... not so much for the free food ... but because it is likely the only opportunity I will have to eat that shift ...
On many occasions I had folks who I took photos of or wrote stories about and they would later drop off a few pastries or muffins and a thank you card ... I always accepted the token gracefully ... and shared the treats with the rest of the staff ... I don't think doing so jeopardized my integrity .... though I have never been offered anything more to influence my motives ;-) |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 1:47 PM on 10.06.10 |
| ->> I've found many media centers and press rooms provide lunch or at least cold water and soda. They're there for the media and I don't feel bad at all taking stuff to snack on. |
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David Brooks, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 3:58 AM on 10.07.10 |
->> I agree with Corey but this issue of the press and gifts is a curious one, like food at a sporting event for the press, most agree it's part of the job, you don't have to eat it but it's there if you want it. At the same time I've never heard of anyone turning down the FREE parking passes that are provided at large and small sporting events, let alone offering to pay to get-in on the grounds of journalistic integrity. Most often these are just gestures of hospitality and convenience, nothing more.
In some cities parking plaques are provided to working press to park anywhere except blue and red zones.
On a smaller more personal scale when someone offers me something to eat or drink I usually say, "I need both my hands to take pictures and I don't want to miss anything but thank you for offering." If they insist, I gracefully accept.
Food is good. |
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Sam Santilli, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 12:59 PM on 10.08.10 |
| ->> I have NEVER seen a newspaper photographer at a sporting event turn down any food or drink. The hosting team wants images to get out on time so they can get the free pub. A cold drink and a decent sandwich is a small price to pay for free coverage of the event. |
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