Anecdotal History

Invited content for community site

[camweh]

My site and forum are about the area where I was born and raised, like me most of my members are retired. I've been reading a book about the anecdotal recollections of the old-timers in the town I now live in and found it facinating. I'm thinking that such an "Anecdotal History" section might be ideal for my site considering the age group of the members. I've put out some feelers and there has been a favourable response.

Any suggestions on such an undertaking would be greatly appreciated.

[lcampers]

If the recollectors aren't good writers I'd ask them to recollect for you in their own voice and then try and edit them for your site.

You could also interview them on the phone and record the conversation (let them know of course), or interview and record them in person. Then you can transcribe the interviews.

Sounds fun!

[camweh]

Yes, I do think some of the anecdotes will be orally supplied. I'll be transcribing them for insertion on the site after the submitter approves the final draught. In such a scenario who would be the copyright owner?

[Essex_boy]

I thought about this for a hliday makers from hell type site, I would work well I think and you should give it a go.

Beware of people entering their own text you do need to confirm it before posting.

[lcampers]

Not too sure about copyright, but I think it's pretty nebulous. You can say, state, etc. that you own the "first" rights to their article, and that they are free to try to publish it elsewhere. Or you can make them a contract that says "don't publish this anywhere else..." though that tends to turn writers off.

The biggest problem you might have is other websites copying your content, and that's a whole other issue that is dealt with all the time on this site.

If you have a specific niche like you do though, I wouldn't worry too much about copyrights. The author is the author, they want to see their name in print, or their story, and you are the publisher. If they ask you to take it down, I guess comply, but that would be pretty rare.

[camweh]

If you have a specific niche like you do though, I wouldn't worry too much about copyrights. The author is the author, they want to see their name in print, or their story, and you are the publisher. If they ask you to take it down, I guess comply, but that would be pretty rare.
+++

Thanks, I'm looking forward to getting into this project early in the new year - I can see it being very popular.

[malachite]

In such a scenario who would be the copyright owner?

If you're doing the writing, you would own the copyright.

To cover yourself though, you could always ask the participants to sign an agreement giving you permission to write up and publish their recollections. And maybe head each article with "Recollections of Joe Bloggs" as told to and written by [insert your name]

Good luck with the project, it sounds fun :)

<edited to add> this only applies if you're recording them and writing up. If they write their own account, which you then publish, they would own the copyright, and it would be "written by Joe Bloggs, edited by [you]".