Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real CPW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
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?
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.
Which scenario best illustrates a conflict of interest for a freelance writer?
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.
A CPW discovers that a source they quoted in a published article has been found to have fabricated credentials. What should the writer do?
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.
Under US copyright law, when a writer creates content as an employee within the scope of their employment, who owns the copyright?
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.
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:
Answer: Astroturfing
Astroturfing is the deceptive practice of creating content that appears to be organic or independent while concealing its paid or sponsored origin.
Which action would violate the principle of informed consent when interviewing a source?
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.
A writer repurposes a substantial portion of their own previously published article for a new client without disclosure. This practice is called:
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.