Rights? What rights?

The origins of these useful lists are lost in the mists of time. We think a client wrote them and the client thinks we wrote them. In either event, we have been given the all clear to re-publish them for you.

The interviewee has a right to:
- know the interview topics in advance.
- know the identity and affiliations of the reporter.
- know the 'peg' of the story and the planned use of the interview.
- know whether others are being interviewed.
- state - and re-state - their key points.
- some control over the interview environment.
- keep the interview process orderly, even the 'ambush' interview.
- interrupt if false statements are being made and to receive equal time to respond to accusations.
- refuse to give genuinely proprietary information.
- remain silent - sometimes!

The journalist has a right to:
- reasonable access to news sources and news scenes.
- a timely response to an inquiry.
- a concise, direct and truthful answer to a relevant question.
- expect your organization to have a spokesperson or interview coordinator.
- insist that you prove all of your claims.
- seek reaction and opinion on your statements from other interested parties.
- decide which statements, information and visual material are appropriate to use with your story.
- courteous and considerate treatment.
- a regular flow of information during breaking stories.
- evaluate and report the story as the reporter or news organization sees it.

Examples of information which cannot be shared with a journalist:
- Information regarding mergers and acquisitions.
- Sales or financial figures other than those previously published in Quarterly Reports, the Annual Report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or previously issued in news releases.
- Product run rates.
- Market share data.
- Personnel information, practices, or policies.
- Research or advanced development activities.
- Unannounced products.
- Comments regarding the competition and suppliers.
- Discussions of customers or the terms of specific contracts or sales.
- Facilities plans.

Please feel free to discuss this list via the comments link.