Writers on assignment for the times. Whether staffers or freelancers , are bound by the same ethics code. It ‘s true that freelance writing is a hard way to make a living and there ‘s no question we make it harder by imposing these stringent conflict of interest rules. But what are the alternatives ? We can’t afford to put everyone who writes a book review or a travel article on full time staff. If we stopped using freelancers to supplement our staff reporting. We would deprive our readers of much interesting material (and deprive freelancers of both income and a prestigious outlet). And if we let freelancers take freebies from people they write about , we would compromise the integrity that people demand of the times.?