Are columns written by SDSAB members available only on the online Straight Dope webpage, or are they ever republished elsewhere, such as the Chicago Reader or collected into books?
I’ve asked about this in the past, and AFAIK there is no plan in the works by the Reader to hardcopy publish Staff Reports. Since Staff Reporters do not give up copyright to their works (but allow the Reader the use of their works), they can republish them elsewhere. In addition, often a popular Report will generate a request for republication elsewhere. In this case, Ed asks the Reporter if they are OK with it before telling them an affirmative. Several of mine have been republished elsewhere by that method.
Many Staff Reports are copied completely and appear on other sites, and in very few cases are these authorized. Sometimes an official request is made for the other site to take the Report down. At one time one of my complete Reports appeared on about 100 different sites (I stopped counting then), with almost none of them (maybe less than 5) even bothering to include my name as the author. I’m typically very amenable to copying of works if they 1) include my full name, and 2) reference the Straight Dope via a URL and the name of the website. But then, that’s me.
Una pretty much speaks for all of us, I think.
Except for the trees. I leave that to the Lorax.
Which of your reports was so popular Una?
(Not that I’m saying they shouldn’t be popular, just wondering what was different about that one.)
BTW, if any of you see a Staff Report or one of Cecil’s Columns being used at some website – especially if not credited – please let us know! The READER would like to stop unauthorized use as much as possible.
Zombies and power plants. It’s since dropped off the radar quite a bit, but at one time it was very heavily copied.