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Q. I worked as a full-time staff reporter for a biweekly newspaper for several years before leaving my job due to family commitments.

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I continue to work for the newspaper as a freelance reporter, but I'm thinking of contracting myself out to do some public relations work for local arts organizations and nonprofit groups to earn a bit more money. Is it possible to still write news stories AND do public relations?

For Hire

A. This will be entirely up to your newspaper.

The issue is this: Will your position in public relations compromise the independence and credibility of the newspaper?

Joe Grimm

Very often, there will be a conflict that will force a choice.

Direct conflicts are certainly taboo, but smart newspapers insulate themselves from potential and perceived conflicts as well. If anyone at the newspaper is doing public relations for any organization in the community that gets covered by the newspaper, a reader might logically say, "Well, of course Reporter B wrote a favorable story, Reporter A works for them. They're probably friends."

It's time to choose one path or the other.

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Coming Friday: She plans to move from a community college to a four-year institution and wonders what she should be doing to get ready for an internship someday.

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