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  • From: Cottage Garden <cottagegardenpro@yahoo.com>
  • To: gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [gwl-g] re writing about friends gardens
  • Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:18:20 -0700 (PDT)

This is a question of perception or impression of bias. I think the issue is whether or not you are supposed to be an impartial reporter of facts (like a professional journalist) or a cheerleader (potentially quite biased.) If your friend is just a hobby gardener, there is probably less chance of a perceived problem. But if your friend is a garden design professional or a nursery professional, then there is more potential for creating the impression that you are partial and are sending business their way.
 
The disclosure would serve to let the editor and readers understand your position and also explain whether or not you are aware of the potential for bias and have taken steps to counter it or not.... 
 
Certainly horticulture is a somewhat limited sphere of people and you are bound to know many of your subjects socially as well as professionally. And if you often write about gardens in your local area, you are bound to be friends with some of the best gardeners.
 
Sometimes it might be better to opt for the garden of someone you know at arm's length rather than that of a close friend. For the close friend, you can pass along a tip about a hot garden for someone else to write up. Otherwise as a reader I might think, fairly or unfairly, "Oh, they are writing about yet another of their dearest friends, no wonder all their gardens are so magnificent."


Barbara Martin
FLOWER GARDENS
http://flowergardens.suite101.com/
Member, Garden Writers Association


Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story.
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  • [gwl-g] re writing about friends gardens, Cottage Garden, 09/24/2007

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