Welcome to the Hot Seat

Why Interviews?

We love to advocate for others, and one of the ways we do that is by introducing new people and ministries to our audience. Interviews are merely one way that can happen. It’s one of the very best, being time-honored and true, because journalism is at its finest when you can speak freely, directly to the public.

The Honorable Hot Seat

Please know that interviews come by invitation only. If you’ve been offered an interview, this page is designed to help you. We offer full disclosure and will provide you all the details you need to prepare. We are a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, and we carefully abide by the SPJ Code of Ethics.

Our interviews are typically 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the topic), and they are published on our blog under the category “Interviews” and any subsequent category that would be appropriate. If you’ve never been interviewed before, it can be intimidating. Therefore, we want to outline some basics that may put you at ease and help you prepare, should you choose to accept our invitation.

Purpose

We conduct interviews to introduce key people to the Body of Christ who are doing genuine kingdom work. We believe in giving you a voice and generating support. This is for the glory of Jesus Christ and the advancement of God’s kingdom. The intent is never to glorify man, but Christ who is living through that particular individual or entity. Individuals who demonstrate the same core principles, mission, and values of this organization are of particular interest.

Presentation

Appointed Time Press, LLC is a registered member of the Society of Professional Journalists and abides by the SPJ Code of Ethics. All information disclosed is strictly at the discretion of the interviewee (subject), who has the right to decline any question at any time — no questions asked. Any off-table topics are always honored. We maintain strict ethical standards so that you are represented with excellence and your content is presented with accuracy.

The Record & Transcription

The official record is sacred and inalterable by law.

Whenever possible, the interviewee is encouraged to record the interview for their own records in whatever format they choose. Prior to publishing, we will submit a record of the interview: both in digital format and written transcription, giving you the opportunity to review the material for accuracy. Although most journalists do not practice this courtesy, we believe it is the right thing to do. Should transcription errors occur (which are usually phonetic, meaning they are misheard), this allows for the interviewee to notify us of any corrections they may find, which we may honestly miss, or fail to be aware. For this reason, accuracy, although being the primary responsibility of the author/interviewer, is a joint effort by both parties. We want you to have the opportunity to see and review the content being published before it ever goes live. Please understand, the record is inalterable. You may not make alterations to the words you’ve spoken, which would falsify the record, and thereby violate the SPJ Code of Ethics. You may only make corrections to transcription errors. 

If you should determine any portion of the interview is to be off the record, you hold the right to make a formal statement adjudicating such terms at the time. All such statements will be honored as being off the record, even if the interview is in process.

Publication

If there is a portion of the record you do not want published, please let us know so we can perform an omission. We still maintain full rights to the content under copyright law. Understand this is merely a courtesy we offer, and not an obligation. Laws that protect freedom of the press give us full discretion in what portion we may use, and therefore we maintain the right to either decline or approve that request. Rarely is there ever a time when such requests would not be honored.

We are honored to interview you and represent you. We want to do so with excellence and integrity. How we present you reflects upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and the credibility of this organization. We consider it a great honor to serve you and the public as an advocate and mediator for whatever you wish to communicate.

We will provide you a publishing date. Please know that all dates are tentative, being subject to change.

Choosing Your Style

We want you to have a choice in how your interview is conducted. Regardless of the interview style you may choose, their conduct is similar with only minor differences. We’d like to delineate those differences for you here.

We conduct interviews in the following ways:

1.) In person
2.) By phone
3.) Via Skype
4.) In writing

Not every option will always be possible, but we want to offer you a choice that best suits you. Written interviews are expressly different, in that the subject writes answers to the proposed questions, having ample time to delineate their answer.

The interview questions are conversational and open-ended, allowing for the subject to give answers that satisfy a curious and entertained audience. The goal is to generate interest. Although we do not disclose specific questions ahead of time, we will offer you the general topics we plan to discuss. The questions proposed (although planned), will largely depend upon your answers, which guide the direction of the interview. We strongly encourage every interviewee to answer questions with their audience in mind, instead of the interviewer. Please be mindful to whom you are ultimately speaking. Our position is merely one of advocacy.

Again, the record is sacred and inalterable. Accuracy is always the end goal. Whether you choose in person, via phone, Skype, or a written document, your words will be preserved precisely as you’ve spoken or written them. If at any point you wish to omit a portion, please make that clear prior to publishing the content. Once the interview is published and goes live, we will not make changes to raw content.

Requirements

All interviews will require the following:

1.) A formal appointment either in person, by phone or via Skype.

2.) Consent must be obtained. We provide full disclosure. We will email you a consent form and accompanying documents to prepare.

3.) A photograph of the interviewee’s choice in a jpeg format. If it is a registered trademark logo, such will be credited in the publication as being used with permission along with the said copyrights. All image credits will be clearly stated with regard to who gave permission, the copyright, and any other credits such as photographers named and the individual photographed. Therefore, please include such information with the image along with permission for use.

4.) A disclosure of the web address or link(s) the interviewee would like published in accordance with the interview. We ask that these be limited to three. For example: one for your website, one for work(s) on Amazon or other distributor, and one for video media.

Modifications

Modifications can give rise to quarrels and questions within the public eye. Once modifications are made to material already published, those alterations become areas of dispute that do not favor you. That change in information may very well discredit you. It also breeds questions about the integrity and credibility of this ministry, and our ability to accurately represent our guests. For this reason, we strongly caution against modifications, giving you ample opportunity to review the material prior to publishing.

We are happy to make modifications after publication that do not alter the official record with regard to the following:

1.) Misspellings
2.) Grammar or punctuation errors
3.) Transcription errors
4.) Format
5.) Pictures used
6.) Updated or corrected links to your work

Deletions

Should you ever want an interview deleted, please let us know. In the event you should want or need the interview deleted please submit the following in writing:

1.) The desire to delete.
2.) The reason why
3.) Authorization for disclosure of the deletion.

As the copyright holder, we reserve the right to decline a deletion.

Again, such deletions give rise to questions among the public, which are never favorable. We do not suggest a deletion unless it is absolutely necessary.

As the copyright entity, please know that we also reserve the right to delete an interview. In the unfortunate event that there is a breach of Christian conduct, or violation of copyright law by which we would no longer be able to endorse your ministry or work, the interview will be subject to deletion. Such instances are usually extreme and are very sad. We do not anticipate this happening, and we hope it never does. However, situations do arise when those measures are appropriate and necessary (please see 2 John 9-11). In such cases we will notify you in writing of the deletion and the reason why.

Copyright

All interviews conducted are subject to copyright as the property of Appointed Time Press, LLC under the copyright laws of the United States of America.

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Featured Image Credit: Sponchia | Pixabay