The death of journalism

30/06/2009 by admin.

If I hear another editor complain about a tight budget, I’ll scream!

Perhaps I was just too optimistic when I left my previous employment. But looking back, the slide had already begun. Here are the critical stages:

1) Offer of a retainer is withdrawn in the week leading to my last day

2) “Special” rate withdrawn when I make it known that I am filing stories to rival publications.

3) Page lead plus internet content paid for with a cheque for £9.50 by a well known weekly newspaper. Editor increases it to £25 after I complain but nothing else is ever used.

4) Former employer uses fewer and fewer stories, prefering to beaten to them by smaller rivals than pay.

5) Once prompt payers wait an extra month before settling invoices

6) Top story sent to regional title greeted by email from a reporter “looking forward to working with you”.

7) Claims for payment for photographs ignored

Press releases used in preference to live copy which arrives first

9) Magazine asks if I can supply pictures - “otherwise we’ll have to pay for them”.

10)…and the best yet: “Oh, we thought you had sent us a press release. You mean it was a story???”

but are we downhearted?

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