The ethics debate is very emotive, and it touches on everything, including freelance writing. Some writers wonder if it is ethical to be a freelance writer. This is a scion of some unscrupulous behavior exhibited by some freelance writers who do taint the good name of this noble field. This question can be associated with the ethical issues raised in the essay writing companies, which is why some people poke holes into the whole matter.
There is nothing wrong with freelance writing because the writer does his work at his own convenient time. You can write for blogs, newspapers, magazines, journals and so on. Freelance writing does not need to be associated with the education system for it to thrive. It is taking shape because different companies require different aspects in terms of content, which is why many online freelance writers are benefiting from them. Companies are making online forays to try to get more customers and to do that they need people who are well versed with the online goings-on.
Freelance writers today have different sets of skills that are essential in driving a company’s content forward. There are online freelance writers dealing with marketing, others handle content development, and others provide website content. As such, freelance writing is within the ethical considerations that many people are questioning. Maybe the association with online essay writing companies is what is spoiling the ‘broth,’ but as it stands, there are many online writers that are within what is considered as ethics.
When it comes to freelance writers, there are ethical issues that are crucial to follow. It is better to know several things concerning ethics as you embark on becoming the bets freelance writer. They include:
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A non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
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Embellishing the size of your business or your experience
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Stick to facts
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Personal opinions
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Do not embellish for anyone, not even your client
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Sources that are not supposed to be
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Ghostwriting
These documents are binding, and if you sign one with a client, you had better stick to it. For instance, if it requires you not to reveal the name of your client, you have to abide by that requirement. These agreements come with a certain period within which you cannot disclose anything about the project or the client. You only disclose this information only when and if the company or your client permits you to do so.
Sometimes these things happen, and the freelance writer stands to lose more on credibility. If you claim you have extensive experience in some area whereas you don’t, that goes against the ethics of freelance writing. If you are great at your craft, you do not need to embellish because, at one point in time, you will be discovered. That is not what you want to happen to you as a freelance writer.
We are living in a world if post truths and alternative facts. As such, you have to stick with facts at all time. You need not have one source; look for another credible source that will make your fact airtight. The best thing is to locate the original source of i9nformation and then look for others that back the same idea. Verifying the information is crucial, and journalists can attest to this fact because it is part of their code of ethics.
Do not frame your opinions as facts even if there is a strong monetary gain. If it is something you cannot support with relevant statistics, then do not even present it as a fact. Just in case you use it, let your audience know that it is your point of view.
Some freelance writers have faced situations where clients require them to embellish facts or statistics for them. As a writer, you have to fight against this because you will be disseminating misinformation. You can offer the alternative of trying to guide them in a better and a more truthful manner. If you happen to have this in writing, indicate that you tried your best to advice against the direction taken by the client.
So you have been working on a project for a client, and you think your other clients can be a source of information? This is not just wrong in every way, but it is unethical. You cannot use your current clients as sources of articles because that is a conflict of interest. If a client has paid you, then he has the rights to that work.
Conversely, you can use the same source in another work. If you have another client who has the information that your readers need and is paying you to do the work, you cause the same source.
You want to use the credit from the massive project you have been handling for another client, right? Well, you have to refer back to the agreement. If you are not allowed to use it under your portfolio, it will be unethical to contravene that requirement. If you are ghosting for a company and you are being paid to keep off mentioning your input or name, then stick to it.
Why ethics are important in freelance writing
When you are a freelance writer, the buck stops with you. It is important you keep your eyes on the ethical norms and original purpose of the old-fashioned standard in freelance writing. Even though you will write for a client, the real accountability comes once he has submitted that work. If there are ethical issues that pop up, the client may not tell you but will walk away altogether.
Since you are your editor, it is better to locate and follow your won guides. Most freelance writers have become successful because they have remained true to the code of ethics even in cases where clients do not provide them. If you are to keep working in this field, you have to start by outlining some of the things you would not like if you were a client. Henceforth, you stick to the ethical behavior in freelance writing.
