Nov 2013

If you want to be paid, you’re a...

THE FREELANCE reproduces here an unusual exchange of emails about a commission by a blog. It pretty much speaks for itself.

It caused a TwitterStorm™ in mid-October. Most of this was, rightly, about the sexism and racism of the editor, since reported fired.

The Freelance cannot help noticing, however, that what prompted the abuse was one simple act of the solicited contributor: very politely declining to spend time writing good pieces for no money.

How much of the blame for this can be laid at the door of the Freetards who express an ideological objection to paying for any creative or authorial work? #onlyasking.

Oct 9 at 2:23 AM

ofek@biology-online.org
To dnlee

Hello DN

My name is Ofek and I am the Blog Editor at Biology-Online.org - one of the worlds largest biology websites with over 1.6 million visitors a month. I encountered your blog "Urban Scientist" and am wondering if you would be interested in joining us as a guest blogger for a short monthly article. I know you are busy, but you could serve as "educator" and guide for the world of science. As an added benefit (more to the point) you will enjoy a great deal of exposure from our 1.6 million monthly visitors,

Please let me know if you are interested and I can provide further details. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.

Ofek

Oct 9 at 2:36 PM

dnlee
To ofek@biology-online.org

Good day Ofek,

Thank you so much for your interest. It does sound like a great opportunity.

Please tell me more about this? Are you looking for a Guest Blogger for a 1 month stint? If so, how many posts are you expecting in this one month?

Or are you looking for a single monthly contribution? If so, for how many months?

Finally, what are your payment rates for guest bloggers?

Thank you,

Danielle

Oct 10 at 12:07 AM

ofek@biology-online.org
To dnlee

Hi Danielle

Thanks for your reply.

Regarding your frequency, we would be happy for a monthly article.

The only caveat is that we ask for a delay of two weeks before you repost on your own blog, though you can post a link immediately.

Regarding payment, truthfully we don't pay guest bloggers. Even Dr Michael Joyner, who is an internationally recognized expert in his field does not receive payment.

That said, by writing for us you stand to profit financially in other ways. As I wrote previously, we have 1.6mn monthly visitors, so by writing and linkig to us, you not only receive traffic from us, but it can have a direct effect on the traffic and rank of your blog, and that in turn has a direct efffect on advertising revenue.

So there are tangible financial benefits, but direct payment for blogging is not one of them.

I am happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Thanks, Ofek

Oct 9 at 10:41 AM

D N Lee
To ofek@biology-online.org

Thank you very much for your reply.

But I will have to decline your offer.

Have a great day.

DNLee

Oct 10 at 11:58 PM

ofek@biology-online.org
To D N Lee

Because we don't pay for blog entries?

Are you an urban scientist or an urban whore?

Today at 8:14 AM

DNlee
To ofek@biology-online.org

DID YOU JUST CALL ME A WHORE?

Dr Danielle Lee then wrote about the exchange in her Urban Scientist blog for Scientific American. Since editor "Ofek" was aware of the existence of this - it was the reason he had contacted her - he could have done better by predicting this possibility. That is rather a clear "do not mess with this person" flag.

Scientific American proceeded to get itself in trouble by deleting the blog because the story was "unverified". Their web editors forgot to delete the images below which, er, in general terms verify it - which is why we have been able to copy them for safe keeping and the purposes of reporting news and current affairs.

And look at the time-stamps on those emails. What zone is "Ofek" in?

And now (17/11/2013) D N Lee's Scientific American blog post about the email exchange is reinstated. Read it.

Oh, you didn't bother to click?

Seriously, all anger aside - this rationalization of working for free and you'll get exposure is wrong-headed. This is work. I am a professional. Professionals get paid. End of story.

DNLee

The blog in question has apologised.

For the sake of the archive and for the record:

The opening exchange: click for full size

The reply: click for full size

And an abrupt conclusion: click for full size

Last modified: 17 Oct 2013 - © 2013 contributors
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