Mainstream Media Doesn’t Want to Pay Bloggers
I believe that a blogger who is on top of their game is just as valuable as a staff writer. Yet, you will often find that the compensation doesn’t match.
This is the very issue I wrestled with when considering an offer to write a weekly blog post for US News & World Report – for zero compensation. Despite a strong reaction from my peers and readers of this blog, I decided to do it. So far, it has translated into what I think is a nice resume-booster and about 60 click-throughs a month.
I’ll leave it for you to decide if the time I put into writing each post is worth it. For now, I think it is. But it’s a fine line between a blogger guest posting just for the exposure and mainstream media looking for free content. Which leads me to the “Write My Blog” contest I came across on CNBC.
According to Sports Biz blogger Darren Rovell…
It’s always hard taking a vacation these days as a reporter. Being on the beat all the time is just part of the job…Since I want to take a real vacation and get away, I don’t want to be blogging. At the same time, I do want my blog to continue to be the destination it has become for all things sports business…So if you’re a sports biz junkie, you frequent this site and you think you know your stuff, here is your chance to guest host my blog on CNBC.com.
Read more about the contest and enter.
What are your thoughts? Good exposure for a blogger; or mainstream media freeloading? Perhaps both. Speak your mind!
I think it depends on everyone’s situation. I was offered something similar for a new Immigration Community Website and, for me, I just need to build a name and some reputation so to do it for free, once a week and just a few lines for a linkback to my blog… It’s a good deal.
If I were John Chow I’d probably charge them… or not do it at all! But I’m not: he’s in BC and I’m in ON… ;)
Best regards…
I think it’s a little of both. I’ve noticed the trend in broadcast news too: “Send us your video” (do our job for us). The contest seems like a fun and good-faith effort to give an unknown blogger a little press while keeping the blog going during vacation.
I don’t think you should be pilloried for taking an unpaid gig either as long as you aren’t feeling hard done by. You’re getting clicks and a resume booster (on a name brand site too). If you think that’s enough reward for your effort then who am I to judge?
It really depends on the media, prestige, exposure you’ll get. I don’t think there’s no rule. Ramon Ray, Editor & Technology Evangelist, Smallbiztechnology.com
In a few years this will be the mainstream media.
Equal pay for equal work. If the project in question is of the same variety and depth that would be created by a staff writer, than the pay should absolutely reflect that.