Journalism Research and Random Meanderings

Friday, March 19, 2004

Freelance Journalism Rates part 1 

The two pubs I write for regularly (but not often enough) both pay better than $0.30/word but since the rate complaints seem to centre around much lower rates I arbitrarily calculated at a rate of $0.25/word and stuck the results at the end of each line.

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"Shannon Lee Mannion" wrote;

Here are weekly rates for the editorial department at the Citizen as stated in the Agreement between the paper and the Ottawa Newspaper Guild (local 30205 of the Newspaper Guild-CWA [CLC, AFL-CIO]) July 21/00 to July 20/03

E-3 Reporter July 21/02

5 years experience $1,165.28 4661 words
4 years experience 1,033.56 4134 words
3 years experience 982.42 3930 words
2 years experience 932.26 3729 words
1 year experience 884.67 3539 words
To start 809.81 3239 words

Columnist $1,217.91 4872 words

Imagine how many stories at ten to twenty cents a word one would have to write in a week to make the top rate.
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As you can see measuring the output on a per word basis shows that the more experienced reporters have to put out more (words that is). When you think about it though it might make more sense to say the more-experienced reporters words have more value. Then we're saying that everyone is expected to produce the same amount of words per unit of time. The real answer is probably somewhere in between the more-experienced reporters put out more words of more value.

A bit of business negotiation gained from years as a computer consultant: sometimes the best deal is the one you _don't_ get. Always be ready to walk away. One time I lost a bid for a large quantity of computers to a bids that was $1/machine lower. I heard afterwards that the client was a nightmare and the only reason the vendor hadn't taken action is that he couldn't decide between murder and suicide.

A polite way to tell people the rate is too low: 'I would like to work for you but I can't afford to work at that rate. Thank you.'

The best thing to do immediately after saying that is - nothing. Maintain your silence (this is harder than it sounds especially face-to-face). I was surprised to see the silence technique come up in interviewing class but silence is as effective in negotiations as it is in interviews.

The reason I moonlight is so I don't have to devalue my work as a writer to stay in the field. My strategy is to continue moonlighting until I can build my freelance business to where I am self-sufficient. I figure on having to continue for a couple of years. Unless switching from nights to days every week and no days off kills me first. :)

Disclaimer: If you have an enlarged political correctness gland stop reading now (and then get locationally challenged).

How many publishers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Three. One to screw in the light bulb and two to hold the the writer down.

Discussion of Freelance Journalism Rates part 2 

This rates thing is a hot issue with me right now. This is a true story. I want to get my freelance business to the next level. I'm hungry and eager. I see an ad for freelance work and I pounce......and by that I mean I make up some b.s. about needing to verify the address and call the guy. We have a great conversation. I spend a few hours updating my c.v. and putting together a package to send out. They reply.....

++++++++
Thanks for sending your package. Here's a bit of info:

We pay $100 per news/feature story with a related photo or photos. Story length is generally in the neighbourhood of 800 words. We're looking for people to take on work on a monthly basis in the Niagara, Peel and York regions.

Story ideas are endless and we're open to a wide variety. The ideas you mentioned in your package are on par with the type of happenings we would cover.

We also profile various companies which are setup by our marketing dept. and assigned to staff and freelancers.

These profiles much like advertorials, are setup by our marketing department and the business. Basically, they tell the story of the company including how it was started, history, type of company, scope of work etc. They require photos, although many companies supply their own to us. The length runs about 1,500 words. The current pay is $175 for this type of work.

The profiled company reviews the story, has the authority to request revisions and then once the copy has been approved, it is sent to us.

If you're still interested let me know.
+++++++++++++

I'm torn. I want the work but the rates are too low. Maybe there's some wiggle room. I put my lack of money where my surfeit of mouth is.....

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I am interested but the rates you mentioned are around 1/4 to 1/3 of what I am currently getting for pieces of that length. Admittedly I am worth more as a techno-journalist and I will have to accept less until I learn more about the but I'm not sure I can afford to do the work at those rates.

I don't like to bang out some tripe just to get the dough. I don't want to sound high-handed but I have a standard of quality of research and accuracy I set for myself (especially as regards pix you haven't seen my photo portfolio). I don't want to put my name on something sub-par. I can accept that I will have to do more work because I know less about this field than I do about high-tech and that it's on me to carry that weight. Still, $00.08/word for news and $00.11/word for profiles is rather low. Anybody hungry enough to take the work may be too weak to finish it :)

You make no mention of expenses. Is there a travel or long distance telephone allowance? We either have to go or call - either one costs money.

I hope we can come to some sort of accomodation.

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As it turns out there was no wiggle room. Every once in a while I wonder if I should just shut up and take the work. Sigh, it's like when the only things that are right about your blind date are the gender and body temperature. My hormones are all for it but my brain insists I'm not going to be happy about it afterwards. Maybe I should start charging the editors for the packages. Sort of like a kill fee. Assign me something or pay the enclosed invoice for $100.

Cohabitation Agreement Form - LawDepot.com 

Fill out this form to make a Canadian cohabitation agreement.

Cohabitation Agreement Form - LawDepot.com

Ministry of the Attorney General - Family Justice Matters 

Ontario Government Family Law Information

Ministry of the Attorney General - Family Justice Matters

An outline of Ontario Family Law -- Skapinker & Shapiro LLP, Barristers & Solicitors 

An outline of Ontario Family Law -- Skapinker & Shapiro LLP, Barristers & Solicitors

Bill's Law Library (A list of links about a broad spectrum of legal topics) 

Bill's Law Library

Thursday, March 18, 2004

Grey Island Systems 

Grey Island Systems