We pay nothing. Is that OK with you?
From the trenches of the modern freelancing markets, here's an odd email exchange between an editor at the Atlantic and journalist Nate Thayer. The editor inquired about publishing an adaptation of a piece Thayer had published elsewhere and added, "We unfortunately can’t pay you for it, but we do reach 13 million readers a month." Thayer shot back that he was "perplexed how one can expect to try to retain quality professional services without compensating for them."
RE: We pay nothing. Is that OK with you?
Written by Laura Newman on Mar 5, 2013 Blog
Whoever posted this gem must have a full-time job with benefits. 1. This is not "on the lighter side." This is sheer hell for seasoned writers who are supposed to jump at the chance for exposure and no dollars. It's not a light piece. 2. Calling Nate's exchange "odd" is a strange choice of words. Standing up to editors like this should be done more frequently. Maybe the editors will look in the mirror and see what they are doing. I can think of more fitting adjectives here, but I'll leave that to other readers.
Laura
Laura Newman newman@nasw.org 212 664-0017 PatientPOV.org twitter: lauranewmanny Skype: laura_newman1
RE: We pay nothing. Is that OK with you?
Written by John Travis on Mar 5, 2013 Blog
Amused that this appeared on Facebook right next to Joel Shurkin posting this Harlan Ellison rant on writers not getting paid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE
RE: We pay nothing. Is that OK with you?
Written by Beryl Benderly on Mar 11, 2013 Blog
In addition to the $125K that Thayer mentions, here's another insight into the good old days. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/03/how-times-and-i-time...