"So, what would fandom etiquette for journalists actually look like?
At the very least, it means asking permission before embedding fan art or linking directly to fan fiction in coverage. It means thinking twice before asking actors or artists to react to ships or explicit fan creations. It means considering whether a fan reasonably expected their work to stay within the community it was made for. Most importantly, it means treating fandom spaces like real places inhabited by real people, many of whom seek out these spaces precisely because they offer a sense of belonging they may not find elsewhere.
Fandom does not need to remain in the margins to deserve respect. But if journalists are going to cover this subject, and we should, we have to be willing to approach these spaces with the same care, ethics, and nuance we would bring to any other community. Because behind every fic or piece of fan art is someone saying, 'This mattered to me.' Did it matter to you too?"
Crystal Bell - "The Pitt" fans aren't happy with journalists. We need real etiquette when reporting on fandom" Teen Vogue, April 9, 2026
I will say the one time one of my fanfictions was linked to in an online article, they asked my permission first. If you're going to use fanworks in your published piece (video or text) you need to be asking permission.
