Apologies for cross-posting but might be a good debate a la Marcel Berlins. I am a journalism lecturer and if you were interviewing someone for a story, and what they say is "on the record" as it is in your case, then you can use it as long as you aren't commiting libel or malicious falsehood. Journalists, like researchers, have to balance their argument by going to the other side. The company may argue that the assertions of your interviewee might lower them in the estimation of their clients or might damage them in some way. Your defence is that you could prove in a court of law that what you have written is true (the firm doesn't have to prove anything). You may also have the defence of fauir comment but that has to be based on proveable fact.
My advice is to check the factual accuracy of everything the person has said and give the company the write of reply. If you are NATFHE they can give you free legal advice.
Sarah Niblock
Lopndon College of Printing
-----Original Message-----
From: Pauline Ridley <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2002 12:17:08 -0000
Subject: FW: oral history - legal aspects
Apolgies for cross-posting from the Museum education list - but thought some
design historians out there might have some relevant experience of this?
> ----------
> From: Alison James
> Reply To: Alison James
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 1:25 am
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: oral history - legal aspects
>
> Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of what the legal situation
> is where you record someone's memories, with their permission to use the
> material, and then someone else questions what they have said and tries to
> prevent you from using it (in this case the company they used to work
> for).
> Thanks
> Alison
>
> Alison James
> Museum Consultant (Audiences)
> Unit 311
> 241-251 Ferndale Rd
> London SW9 8BJ
> Tel/fax: 020 7733 1202
> Mobile: 0797 946 7740
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Website: www.alison-james.co.uk
>
Sarah Niblock,
Course Director,
MA/PgDip Journalism,
School of Media,
London College of Printing,
10 Back Hill,
London EC1R 5LQ.
Tel: 020 7514 6812, fax: 020 7514 6848
|