Thread by @ClaraJeffery

1/ Can't figure out where the outrage over @taffyakner talking about getting $4 a word, but, editor here, some historical perspective coming...

2/ First, I'm happy that anyone is still getting $4 a word. And if literally one of the best writers in the business and a woman is getting that, well that's great!

3/ 30 years ago, when I started out, $4 was a lot—most writers didn't get that. And most publications didn't pay that, even to great/famous writers didn't get that, at least at all the places they'd write for.

4/ But some of the glossies would pay that, especially to a writer who was famous or trendy or beloved to their readers. Some writers just did that kind of work, and some did 800 for Vogue and a long piece for a prestige but way lower paying mag. Same as now, except...

5/ There's downward pressure—and that's real—throughout the ecosystem, and the market is maybe especially crashing at the high end.

6/ Anyway, i think it's also important to understand that a lot of "staff writers" or "contributing writers" at many prestige outlets, don't get benefits. They may contract for higher rates—even doled out monthly—but they're not employed as most people would understand it.

7/ Like you'd be astounded at some of the people who fall into this category!

8/ Now I know some of the people who are upset at this are like: I face all that and I'm paid a fraction of that word rate!

9/ Freelancing is super hard. To thrive, it takes not only phenomenal reporting/writing but marketing, juggling, and accounting skills.

10/ With the very top end imploding, the leverage that even "fancy" writers had over other relatively high end/paying pubs is diminished.

And i can't speak to all those pubs. But the economic crisis throughout the industry is real.

11/ Now would that some of those fancy pubs had spent their money better back in the day, not fed-exing luggage for junior editors (this actually happened) and, yes, paying out some simply insane contracts.

12/ Anyway, this is one reason why @motherjones went to a predominantly staff-written (yes with good benefits) system years ago. We couldn't make the freelance math and timing work for anyone. Also, writers need healthcare like anyone else.

13/ And, the latest push from the fancy pubs is to force writers to sign away all their film/TV rights EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT ON STAFF.

14/ And I don't know where this is all going. Because writers used to be able to balance their $4 a word gigs with their lower paying but maybe dearer to their heart gigs. But if the top end gigs go away... Also basic economics:

https://twitter.com/LibGuy1066/status/1140274643787550726

15/ Just as the industry has finally finally seen the need to diversify, the economics are getting worse. Can anyone afford to freelance if they don't have a spouse that has benefits or other sources of money?

16/ This economic crunch is also propelling other trends. So many writers decamping to TV writing, for as long as streaming boom lasts...

Political writers augmenting staff jobs with cable contributing gigs.

So good TV (yay) and a TV news ecosystem that's all about takes (boo)

17/ BUT I've never known an editor who wouldn't love to pay a writer more. They're juggling a budget, and staff and other costs, and often under pressure to keep cutting or at least hold the line. They're not the villains. (If there are villain exceptions, don't work for them!)

18/ I mean, tbqh, most editors are writers who saw that they were good at nurturing work out of others—maybe better than out of themselves—but most of all voted for economic stability.

19/ If you're reading all this and NOT a broke freelancer, remember that the news/writing ecosystem is collapsing because the ad market is. ~80% of digital advertising $$ goes to Facebook or Google, not the pubs that did the hard work.

20/ The print ad market is, if anything, in worse shape—starting to be seen in even the most-end glossy mags.

21/ Sober industry watchers are predicting things like: the end of all newspapers except a few national brands in three years. The end of anything else that isn't non-profit or billionaire supported. This is not good for anybody.

22/ So support media you care about. Subscribe, donate, tout good work. Figure ou how your community could take your paper non-profit.

"Nothing's riding on this except the, uh, First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press and maybe the future of the country."

23/ That last bit probably needed a link. -30-

24/ Oh and one more thing: Freelanceers, like all independent contracts, face hellish taxation rates and no ability to withhold. And are also paid on the whim of the company. 90 days out is not rare--GE for example is notorious among tech community.