Q: I've just heard back from a paper I applied to and wonder how much disclosure of potential conflict of interest is necessary on my part?

One of my parents has a senior position for a national consulting firm and for years has been under contract with the county human services department where the paper is located. The contract is set to expire permanently in one year's time with no chance for renewal.

Without going into excruciating detail, I'd say that this is obviously the sort of thing I would mention to the paper before I began working there if hired. But I'm not sure if I should mention it to them before or during an interview.

The beat I'm applying for is slightly open-ended and while human services is by no means the focus of it there is a small potential for a conflict if I were to really dig in on investigative work. The chances of it coming up during the interview process are, however, very, very slim.

While I tend to err on the side of maximal disclosure, I don't want to be perceived as suggesting that this connection will give me inside sources, though my parent has told me that the work has been very well received and simply my acknowledging my relationship to one of a handful of officials would probably increase my credibility with them -- whether I intended it to or not.

How would you approach this issue as a candidate? What would you expect as a recruiter?

Possibly conflicted

A: Your instincts are right. You must disclose any potential conflict so that the newspaper's editors can make the decisions they must to protect the independence and impartiality of the news report.

But this appears to be an arm's-length and temporary conflict.

I would inform them at the offer stage, if and when you get that far, but before you accept.

To get into all the particulars of this potential conflict before you have even been offered a job might muddy the waters and could even make you seem presumptuous. If they offer you a job, disclose the potential conflict then.