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.You must be concerned with the possibility, whether the cases are legitimate or not.If your work is accurate, then you will have little about which to worry.Truth, of course, is the best defense against libel actions.Writer and journalism professor Bruce Henderson (1984) recommended nine ways to ''bulletproof" a manuscript:1.The idea.Check whether the story idea is a new one.Be certain you are not copying or plagiarizing a work.Check your own motivations for doing the article.If your work involves revenge or venting anger, forget it.Page 5232.The assignment contract.Honor the commitments you make in writing and otherwise.Know what you are liable for, such as legal fees, according to the contract terms.3.Research.Use written sources if possible to guard against legal claims.Keep accurate records about where you find the factual information you use.4.Interviews.Select qualified sources.Be sure sources have no grudges against your subject.Get second sources to verify.Identify sources, whenever possible, in the article.Conduct important interviews in person and tapeÂrecord them.5.Note taking.Be thorough in taking notes.Organize the notes after an interview or a records search.When you can, note negative results—that you could not find something.6.Writing.Tell only what you know.Do not guess or make up information to fill in holes.If you are not certain of a fact, then avoid using it.7.Editing and factÂchecking.Do not change information in a story, even if an editor asks you to do so, unless the change is true and accurate.Be ready for a factchecker from the publication to verify information in your story.This may mean calling your sources, too.8.Final checks.Have a lawyer read your final manuscript if you think it might be troublesome.Seeking legal advice before publication is smart and safe.9.Lawsuit.If you ever find yourself served with a suit, contact the publication immediately.The publisher will be directly involved also.Plan to work together.Ethics and Freelance WritingAnother important topic for freelancer writers to consider is ethics.Ethics is the set of principles of professional conduct.Although certain practices in journalism are legal, they may not be ethical.In other words, the practices may not be accepted behavior among most professional writers and editors.For instance, there is much concern today about invasion of individual privacy.There are numerous codes of professional standards in journalism.Among them are the codes of the Society of Professional JournalistsPage 524(SPJ) and the ASJA.The codes are included in Appendices D and E.There are other codes, of course, but they have a similar purpose: to set forward an acceptable to work as a professional journalist.The SPJ code sets general standards for all journalists and is a good overall model to study.ASJA's code focuses on ethical and economic issues that are the fundamental concerns of writers.What professional standards should we be concerned about? Ethics codes list more than 24 different issues pertaining to the relation of writers to sources, editors, readers, and even other writers.Most general codes, such as the SPJ code, focus on responsibilities to the public, need for accuracy, need for freedom of the press, need for fairness, elimination of conflicts of interest and acceptance of gifts in exchange for favors, and the desire to achieve honesty and objectivity.Specific writers'codes, such as the one endorsed by ASJA, are more detailed and propose fair practices in the relationship of writers and editors.ASJA's code, for example, addresses nearly 24 separate situations ranging from subjects similar to those in the SPJ code such as accuracy and conflicts of interest to specific details of writers'publication and payment rights and their expenses.One mark of a professional is the level of his or her ethical conduct.Familiarity with the accepted performance standards in your profession only helps in the long run.Because these are evolving standards, they are constantly changing.It is up to you to keep up with them as your professional career expands.Toward FullÂTime Freelance WritingMost beginning freelance writers are moonlighting.Their primary means of support comes from another form of employment.There will come a time for writers who are successful at moonlighting to consider quitting their primary job to open up more time for writing.Two of the hardest decisions a partÂtime freelance writer faces are (a) whether to switch to fullÂtime and, if the decision to switch is made, (b) when is the right time to make the change.Besides giving up an existing career, it is a decision that may mean giving up a regular, steady income.It is one that should be made only after thoughtful deliberation and discussion with family and colleagues.The main " real difference" in a moonlighting freelance writer and a fullÂtime one is the number of hours per week that are devoted to writing, said author Robert Bly (1992).Once they begin to work, moonlighters and fullÂtimers operate the same way, he says.Michael A.Banks (1985), an author who quit a factory job to become aPage 525ful Âtime freelance writer, describes advantages and disadvantages to making the big switch: Advantages: First, there is more time to plan and write.You can take on larger projects, such as booklets and even books.You work as much as you want because you control your time.There is no need for the physical and psychological transition time to go from job one to job two.Also, Banks says, the fullÂtime writing effort gives you a boost in selfesteem by being in control of your own career and business.Disadvantages: You may be the primary wage earner for you and your family.Some economic losses by giving up a steady income are severe and must be considered
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