I’m biased

Ahoy everyone! This post is about my biases and potential financial conflicts of interest. My integrity as a writer is super important to me, so I want to be as transparent as possible. I don’t pretend to be an objective reporter, but I do think everything I write should reflect my true opinions about the world. I’ll lay out the biases, just in case something crops up and my integrity comes into question.

(This post will be updated as necessary.)

But, first, let me qualify the information presented below.

Over the last few years, journalism has been undergoing a change where many outlets and freelance writers also do consulting work. The change, I believe, mostly came about as ad revenue tanked and subscriptions have not made up the difference. This consulting comes in many forms, but mostly deals with media companies and writers working on things like native ads, speaking coaching, events and other content.

I have talked to multiple editors, journalists, and public relations firms and everyone seems to have experience with different standards on what is acceptable in terms of disclosure or who is acceptable to consult for. The rise of consulting is uncharted territory.

If there was some established standard, it would have been easier to adopt it, but there isn’t one standard, so I’ve decided on one that is some amalgamation of all the reasonable things that I see other people doing.

Below, I’ve listed all of the organizations that I have collected a check from in the past 12 months or have any pending payment from that are relevant to things I write about. It does not include organizations which I have sent proposals to or are in discussions with for potential work. It’s important to know that I now regularly pitch consulting and other funding opportunities to folks who I might write about, or who have an interest in me writing something they like.

And, since the election in 2016, I decided to dedicate most of my writing to thinking about policy changes. So, I will have some financial conflict with most things I write about, because I make a living now trying to find ways to get people involved in solving big problems.

Now, for my own moral sanity, I think I have proof that even in the face of financial incentives, I’m willing to write stuff that isn’t entirely friendly to the political priorities of some of the funders of the organizations that pay me as a contractor: I have written multiple times that companies should accept higher taxes to fund an expanded welfare system. And, yet, knowing that I will continue to write things like this, I have no felt pressure from any potential funder, so I hope this gives readers some evidence that every opinion I write is completely own voice.

Still, here they are. Some organizations get funding from many organizations and tech companies. Check their website for disclosure details:

Funders:

• Tech4America
• Independent Professionals Association
• ThirdWave
• Various media outlets (I write for a bunch, so it’s best to assume that I have a potential financial conflict with any major media outlet)

Other biases that influence me:

• I’m generally pro-capitalism and always have been. I’m also pro-government.
• I’m a tech optimist and believe many inventions make the world a better place. I prefer to be positive and promote good ideas.
• I voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and, more often than not, vote Democrat. But, I’ve also done multiple glowing profiles and pieces on Republicans. I regularly get asked to meetings with business executives and policymakers for advice on a variety of subjects. I sometimes give them advice that I think will help their cause, but I’ve never donated to a candidate.
• I like to be a positive force in Silicon Valley. I am actively involved in public policies that I think make the world a better place and have been long before I started consulting. I am friends with some of the people involved in this work. Though I like to avoid writing about people I have a friendship with, it’s harder now as business and personal life are blurring.

If there’s any info you think I left out, you want to accuse me of being a corporate shill, or if you want to send me a compliment, feel free to contact me at greg@gregferenstein.com

Thanks for being a reader,

Greg