"More Freelancers Fight To Be Paid" (Wall Street Journal)
As more people turn to freelance and independent consulting work, they're taking on an unexpected role: bill collector. ... About 40% of freelancers had trouble getting paid in 2009, according to a survey released in mid-April by the New York-based Freelancers Union, a 135,000-member organization for independent contractors across the country in fields such as media, technology, and advertising. It was the first year the group asked the question on its member survey. And more than three out of four freelancers said they've had trouble getting paid over the course of their careers, according to organization. ...
Since independent contractors aren't covered by most federal employment laws, they don't enjoy the same legal protections on wages as permanent employees, says a spokesman for the Department of Labor. If a permanent employee doesn't get paid, federal or state labor departments can fine companies and even prosecute company executives. But independent contractors often have to turn to the court system, in most cases small claims, if they go unpaid.
Like those portrayed in the article, I have my share of horror stories of dozens of hours, emails, and phone calls spent trying to fight for even small amounts of money that I have worked for. In some cases, it has taken months. In one case, it never came (and the publication eventually shut down). It is maddening. I love freelance journalism, but over the past six years I have absolutely had to learn to be a fighter. Indeed, it is a lesson I have to keep learning. Currently, I'm trying to work on better and more consistent communication with folks who write for the same places I do, or that I want to contribute to; I feel like this is important not only for building community in a sometimes isolating profession, but also crucial for realizing our shared struggles, educating each other, and helping each other out.
Now, pair this news about the freelancing battle with this piece:
"More Publishers Trying Outsourced Journalism" (Advertising Age)
More major media companies are looking for ways to find cheap content. Thomson Reuters, Cox Newspapers and Hachette Filipacchi have run articles supplied by Associated Content, one of several companies, such as Demand Media and AOL's SEED, that mines reporting from masses of freelancers for as little as $5 a story. ...
Such partnerships further the ongoing shift among established news operations to capitalize on the availability of cheap content, such as USA Today's recent deal with Demand Media, which is using its network of freelancers to supply pieces for a new Travel Tips section on USA Today's website.
It's cold out there, folks.
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