Paying for it or getting it for free

A common theme here is resume building, unpaid work. Which we all agree is BS.

While the context of the link below is on photography, there are many parallels with journalism. Thoughts? I found it to be very apropos.

https://petapixel.com/2018/01/22/rejected-request-free-photos/

 

You are talking about journalism, right? 'Cause if not, I've never paid for it in my whole damn life.

 

I'm talking about journalism, getting paid, career building, etc. I thought the author did a great job of explaining why his work (photos) had value.

I did, admittedly, engage in some of my usual enjoyment of wordplay when creating the subject hed. But I hope people read the linked article.

 

Oh, we've all paid for it in one way or another.

 

I have asked permission to use photos in my publication in exchange for credit. I've rarely been turned down, even by professional photographers. Actually, most seem flattered to be asked at all.

Is stealing images for professional use that common? I'm guessing it must be, since my company's CMS has a copyright reminder (and an editor recently asked me where I got the photo I'd used with a profile.)

I've seen quite a few of our own photographers' images used as social-media avatars -- an issue specifically raised in the linked piece -- and always brought it to their attention. I don't think any has complained. I've asked photo editors whether we should be watermarking our galleries to try to prevent copyright infringement, but never gotten a serious response.

 

There is nothing free about a woman. Oh, this thread isn't about women? My mistake.

 

I've been a professional writer longer than I care to remember and people are ALWAYS asking me to write things for them. Obituaries, family newsletters, cover letters, Christmas letters, speeches, ads for Craigslist... You name it, I've been asked to do it. And I always say a big, fat "No" to all of it. Writing is a skill for which I went to college and paid for with my blood, sweat and tears over the years. I don't do anything for free when it comes to my writing and editing.

Want a nice obit? $250.00. Want me to edit your resume? Send me the Word document and $35.

Early on, I'd do these things for free for "friends" until I realized I was being asked to write so much for them, had I made it a full-time job, I'd be, well... Not a millionaire but able to buy lunch.

BUT - when I go to functions or parties where it's people not in the industry, when I'm asked what I do for a living, I tell people I work for the state on a crew that cleans up roadkill.

I'm so sick of hearing, "Oh, you're a professional WRITER?!?!?! Can you teach me how to do that?" They get one of two answers from me. Either, "What? Like, right now?" or "Okay, go to college and get a four year degree in Communications, English or Journalism. Come back to me once you've done that and I'll give you step two."

And, yeah, I'm a little salty. I've been doing this for a long time and people outside the industry think all we do is sit down to the keyboard and breeze through an article, all while sitting on the beach, drinking mojitos, surrounded by the rich and famous.

 

Amen to that! Great reply. Frustrating, I know.

 

It has always been hard to earn a living as a writer. Always.

In the old days, the barrier to earnings was the competition. There were only so many outlets. They paid, sure, but you were competing with Susan Orlean or Joan Didion or RW Apple or Tom Wolfe for space.

Now there's no money, but there's also no barrier to entry. You can become a publisher simply by hitting your return key.

In both cases, you keep yourself afloat driving a cab or working in a bookstore or a foundry, waiting tables or tending bar.

If you want to read and write for a living, you've always had to sacrifice something. That will never change.

But every successive generation of writer or artist or photographer has the right and the freedom to decide what it's willing to give up.

 

I even get some of this from my own wife, who was with me as I killed myself in college and then some more during my career. For some reason it's difficult for people outside of the industry to understand that no matter how seasoned you are as a writer, there's still often a ton of work, mental strength and real effort that goes into any worthwhile piece of writing. For those seasons, I wouldn't do it for free, either.

 

For $250, that obit better be running in the Economist.

 

Nope, but it separates the wheat from the chaff. I don't want to do this stuff, which is why I put such a high price on it.