Roland Said:

"Off the record," do journalists ever make up quotes or details as filler information for a story?

We Answered:

That's some code of ethics your communications professor has. Indeed, that may be why he is teaching instead of reporting -- he got caught making up quotes.. A reporter may think about trying that phony quote business -- in fact, who hasn't? -- but the idea of getting caught in it tends to keep us on the straight and narrow. What would happen if one did this and was caught? I can only think of my old city editor, who had the patience and directness of a buzz saw. First he would chew the offending reporter into small bloody shreds, then he would assign that reporter to the most horrible beat on the paper.

Edward Said:

HELP! I need to know if this is a modeling scam?

We Answered:

It sounds questionable.
I wouldn't do it.