I don't care how much or how little money you might have: no one likes to be taken advantage of.

The following email is one I sent to a morning news producer after an appearance I made to talk about our nonprofit, Naples Social Action (http://www.naplessocialaction.org/). The produccer's name isn't Dorris, the video production company isn't ACME. Just so you know.

Hi Dorris,

I just called ACME about getting a file (emailed is fine) for my interviews last Friday, and they said it would cost $65 for one plus $25 for the second! I don't think it's right that your guests should have to pay to get a file of themselves on your shows. After all, we're giving you content that your viewers find valuable enough to watch.

This isn't your fault or your decision, of course. I'm not mad at you in any way. Someone up the ladder is being both cheesy and unethical, though, and that doesn't sit well with me.

Is there a way I could get clips of those two interviews without going through ACME?

Thanks, Ted


Alright, let me further say that I don't blame ACME. Hey, they're providing a service and making a buck. Good for them.