I was recently involved in a discussion about editing and ethics. Not ethics in the sense of is it right or wrong to use sound bites out of context or is it right or wrong to rearrange content into a totally different meaning, we all know that’s common place in reality-show editing, but more of a question of when (or if) do you turn down an edit job due to the subject matter. I think it’s a great question to ponder in that often you might not have much of a choice. An editor working on staff at a facility very often has to take whatever job comes in the door and is accepted for post work at that particular facility. If it’s good enough for the post house then it is good enough for the editor, right? A freelancer on the other hand can turn down a job at will if he/she doesn’t agree with the subject matter, or at least that’s what many people believe. I think most people who have freelanced for any period of time know that that is not really the case. It’s kind of like that common belief that many people have about freelancing and the self-employed: a freelancer can take off at will to play golf or enjoy a day at the pool or go to a movie, just do whatever the freelancer wants to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. A freelancer has to work when the work is there. So if you have had a few days free in your schedule do you turn down a job just because you do not agree with the subject matter?

This brings up the term “edit whore.” It’s an endearing term that I’ve heard tossed around over the years to describe working on a job that might not have been the editors first choice. If a job is willing to pay and you have time open in the schedule then you take it. I don’t think that makes one an edit whore but if it is a job that you take only for money that has no redeeming value then maybe …

During this conversation I think most of us were amazed to realize that we really hadn’t turned down many jobs over the years based on subject matter alone. One editor had answered an advertisement looking for Final Cut Pro editors but only to find out it was cutting pornography. That one is understandable. My only time turning down a job because of the subject matter was years ago for a couple of local political ads. I’m neither a democrat or republican so I would actually be happy to work on the campaign of a politician I believed in but in this particular case I hadn’t heard of the candidate. I researched him a little and then politely declined the job without giving any reason. It felt good to say no, especially when the candidate lost the election. Maybe I should turn down work more often!