Comments on: Mike Moore-One becomes two? A question of commentators ethics?

By: Ed Snack

Ed Snack — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:26:08 +0000

Perhaps JP because it is at least better than bothering to read your stuff, which has become twisted with anti-National drivel lately that it reads like it has come direct from a 9th floor spin release.

By: jafapete

jafapete — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:07:52 +0000

Adam, As long as all those buying the article knew, and none of them had purchased the copyright, then there’s no problem.

In fact, Moore may not have been paid for all the versions published. The Herald stopped paying for op-ed page content some years ago now, and I for one stopped contributing. I’d be pissed off to hear they were paying Moore for his stuff.

If you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing reading Moore’s stuff anyway? Life’s too short.

By: homepaddock

homepaddock — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:54:23 +0000

The title is almost always the work of a sub so would be different for different papers.

By: adamsmith1922

adamsmith1922 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:19:04 +0000

On second thoughts probably not many Press readers read the Herald anyway so good luck to him

By: adamsmith1922

adamsmith1922 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:17:24 +0000

Syndication I understand, but different titles on the same piece

By: homepaddock

homepaddock — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:00:16 +0000

I don’t think it’s unethical to sell the same column to more than one outlet, whether or not they’re in the same stable providing the writer has the copyright to do so. The writer’s name is on both so he’s not trying to hide anything.

Successful columnists often syndicate their work. Cartoonists do too – Garrick Tremain’s work used to be in several different papers.

Few people get rich from writing, if they can sell a story or column more than once, good luck to them.

By: adamsmith1922

adamsmith1922 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:22:21 +0000

Thank you, you have confirmed what I thought was the legal view.

In one sense I have no problem.

Indeed, I wish I could do the same.

Yet, Adam hears many so called media commentators talking abot the need for ethics

By: homepaddock

homepaddock — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:50:59 +0000

I said journalist above, and Mike Moore isn’t one, but the law of copyright applies to anyone who writes – publication and reproduction rights are theirs unless they sell or give them away.

By: homepaddock

homepaddock — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:47:01 +0000

If a journalist holds the copyright on his/her work s/he is free to sell it to any other media subject to any restrictions agreed to as a a condition of payment.

The Press & Herald are from different stables but the paper editions serve completely different markets so I don’t see any problem with the same, or nearly the same, column appearing in both.

The differences are slight and may have been by sub editors, to fit the paper’s style or because the sub thought they improved the piece.