CPW Ethics & Professional Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A writer is hired to ghostwrite a book for a client who plans to publish it under their own name. What is the primary ethical obligation of the ghostwriter?
- Refuse the assignment as ghostwriting is inherently deceptive
- Honor the confidentiality agreement and complete the work professionally (Correct answer)
- Insist on receiving co-author credit publicly
- Disclose the arrangement to the publisher without client consent
Correct answer: Honor the confidentiality agreement and complete the work professionally
Ghostwriting is a legitimate, widely accepted professional practice, and the writer's primary obligation is to honor agreed-upon confidentiality and deliver quality work.
Question 2: Which scenario best illustrates a conflict of interest for a freelance writer?
- Writing about a topic they are personally passionate about
- Reviewing a competitor's product while under contract with that competitor's rival (Correct answer)
- Accepting multiple assignments from different clients in the same industry
- Using personal anecdotes to strengthen an article's narrative
Correct answer: Reviewing a competitor's product while under contract with that competitor's rival
A conflict of interest arises when a writer's financial or personal ties could compromise the objectivity or integrity of their work.
Question 3: A CPW discovers that a source they quoted in a published article has been found to have fabricated credentials. What should the writer do?
- Do nothing since the article is already published
- Notify the publication and recommend a correction or retraction (Correct answer)
- Delete all references to the source in future work only
- Blame the editor for not catching the error
Correct answer: Notify the publication and recommend a correction or retraction
Professional writers are responsible for the accuracy of their published work and must proactively correct errors, even after publication.
Question 4: Under US copyright law, when a writer creates content as an employee within the scope of their employment, who owns the copyright?
- The writer, as the creator of the work
- The employer, under the work-for-hire doctrine (Correct answer)
- Both parties equally as co-owners
- The copyright is shared with the public domain
Correct answer: The employer, under the work-for-hire doctrine
Under the work-for-hire doctrine, content created by an employee within their job duties is owned by the employer.
Question 5: A professional writer is asked to write a persuasive op-ed on behalf of a corporation without disclosing the paid arrangement. This practice is known as:
- Content marketing
- Astroturfing (Correct answer)
- Native advertising
- Ghost editing
Correct answer: Astroturfing
Astroturfing is the deceptive practice of creating content that appears to be organic or independent while concealing its paid or sponsored origin.
Question 6: Which action would violate the principle of informed consent when interviewing a source?
- Telling a source the article's publication name before the interview
- Recording a phone interview without informing the source (Correct answer)
- Asking a source to review quotes for accuracy before publication
- Providing a source with a list of planned questions in advance
Correct answer: Recording a phone interview without informing the source
Recording someone without their knowledge violates informed consent and may also be illegal in many US states under two-party consent laws.
Question 7: A writer repurposes a substantial portion of their own previously published article for a new client without disclosure. This practice is called:
- Content syndication
- Self-plagiarism (Correct answer)
- Recycling content
- Creative reuse
Correct answer: Self-plagiarism
Self-plagiarism occurs when a writer reuses their own previously published work without disclosure, presenting it as original content to a new audience or client.
CPW Ethics & Professional Standards 2
A writer is hired to ghostwrite a book for a client who plans to publish it under their own name.
What is the primary ethical obligation of the ghostwriter?