asap what yal'll think?

Question

4.
There are great dangers that come when a person let his/her guard down and befriends a reporter because reporters are in the power to write whatever makes a good story in order to sell paper. The one mistake people make and still never learn from is to think before they speak especially when a reporter is writing about them.

Answer 1

I agree to some degree. Reporters are after a story and not to make friends. They can use your statements in whatever capacity they choose as long as they don't misquote you (legally speaking).

Most reporters are ethical enough not to mis-quote you but others that write for less scrupulous magazines, journals or papers will often use just the parts of your statement that suit their needs.

Depending on the type of story a reporter is writing and from what angle, your quotes can be edited (not using the entire statement) or taken out of context. There is evidence of this by the number of law suits that are taken out each year by celebrities and the like for defamation of character, slander and liable.

Some people tend to open up more than they should with reporters because of their desire to talk about themselves, thus leading them to speak without thinking first. Often not thinking about the possible repercussions of what they are saying. Divulging too much information or making inaccurate statements also occurs.

Generally speaking most reporters are looking for the true story and statements to back it up and not simply for attention grabbing headlines.

Answer 2

hmmm................