low pay, no pay nd shame?


source for contacts, commissions and case studies, but the group’s ethos is clear: “No naming, no shaming, no bitching, no exceptions.”


The admin team (themselves volunteers and working


journalists) introduced the rule after members began complaining of late-paying clients. The team issued a joint statement, saying: “We believe


naming and shaming is a bad idea as what, in the heat of the moment. can seem utterly justified can actually turn out to be inaccurate, embarrassing and potentially very damaging – to both the person you name/shame and to yourself – if it turns out that you got your facts wrong.” They point out that posts on a closed Facebook page can


be cited in defamation proceedings and say the team do not have the time or expertise to check each case out. When award-winning freelance investigative journalist,


Nate Thayer was asked to write a 1,200-word article “by the end of the week” for The Atlantic magazine and told there would be no fee, he published the exchange on his blog.


W


hen James Bloodworth was asked to write an unpaid piece for the Huffington Post (ironically in relation to his book that was about working for free), he took to Twitter. Bloodworth believes the problem has


escalated since the recession with an increasing mindset of “think yourself lucky you have any work at all”. He also believes journalists fear blowing the whistle in case it affects their chances of getting published. Another freelance (who does not wish to be named), says: “If people aren’t being paid or are being paid badly, they don’t want to talk about it. We all want to appear successful, and there’s an assumption that earnings equate to ability. That’s rarely true, but publications like the Huff Post promote the idea that if you’re struggling financially, it’s because you’re a bad writer.” fter losing 80% of her magazine clients in the recession, that freelance was forced to accept lower and lower rates, until the company eventually changed their terms to “payment on publication only”. “I had to draw a line somewhere, so I walked away,” she says. “It’s a pattern I’ve seen over and over.” Freelances are increasingly being told there is no budget for celebrity interviews and reviews as PR companies provide them for free. “I’ve even had PRs approach the magazines I’m working for and offer the editor the interview I’d pitched for free,” says one writer. The fact that many journalists now earn a side income from PR complicates the issue further. Toner has floated the idea of a national minimum “wage” for freelances, but says calculating this would have difficulties and not all freelances would welcome it. “At EU level, we have been lobbying for collective bargaining rights for freelances but, if that does come to


theJournalist | 21


pass, it is likely the UK would be excluded as a result of the referendum vote,” he says. Unions such as Bectu are also making representations to


the Low Pay Commission and calling for more resources at HMRC to combat non-compliance with minimum wage regulations. Until these changes come into effect, it is up to journalists


to know their worth. “Naming and shaming may not be the perfect answer, but it is AN answer and we have to try to stem the tide,” says Sarah. “Journalists are angry about it, and the way it’s changing media, and we need to take action before we have no power left at all.”


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