It's really getting stupid out in journalism land. Jim Carty on his blog referenced the Free Press and Detroit News situation, but added some additional information about my former employer, The Oakland Press.
While the Free Press looks like it is launching the Hail Mary and putting all its eggs in the online basket, at least they realize that "content producers" should be retained. Whether this works or not remains to be seen, but at least they realize what their product really is.
Not so for the Journal-Register Co., the new and highly unprofitable owner of the Oakland Press and a number of other newspapers who in exchange for real journalism is now offering short courses in journalism - taught by Press editors (at least a couple who know what they are doing) - for some of its readers. The rewards for that, well, read it in editor Glenn Gilbert's own words:
"For those who complete the instruction, we offer the opportunity to get your work published online or in the print edition. This experience would be especially helpful for high school and college students viewing careers in the communications field. In addition, others can work toward becoming members of our freelance stable of journalists."
Great experience and clips for more non-existent journalism jobs, who does this clown think he's kidding? Emphasize the "free" in freelance. You can read the whole tripe filled column here:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2008/12/13/opinion/doc4944876017642127238243.txt
The next link is a little old, but has some very prophetic information in it from August:
http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=9594
And if you want to read what Jim Carty had to say about all this, go here:
http://papertigernomore.blogspot.com/2008/12/you-work-for-me-you-work-for-free-what.html
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6 comments:
"freelance stable."
well, we know the main product of stables.
and we know how rare really good freelancers are.
and would a good copy editor let an oxymoron like "freelance stable" get by — by definition, a freelancer roams, and is not confined to a building.
kinda like "executive editor."
good lord.
All of this is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You can see your friends inside as you are walking around in real time but there is nothing you can do. The engineer is blind, deaf and dumb and nothing you yell or scream has any effect as the brick wall looms ahead of the tracks.
Jim:
A friend of mine who works for People magazine and has interviewed many celebrities would roll his eyes at this Oakland Press story. He has told me that no legitimate publication will ask a writer to do work for free.
Frankly, I'd rather get paid and not have a byline.
I'd always rather get paid than get a byline.
Dumb and desperate decision to be sure. But I am pretty sure that the future of journalism is not being figured out on this blog, either.
I'll agree with you there. Even if I had all the answers, which I obviously don't, none of the leaders of my old paper would listen to me anyway.
I know one thing I wouldn't do. I wouldn't rub salt in the wounds of the people I am forcing out of the business by talking up my new "promotion."
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