Thread by @terrelljstarr

If you are a TV/Radio producer who is asking an independent reporter in a war zone to broadcast free for you (ME), you need to pay attention to this thread because I hope it will help you help others.

Let's discusss scheduling hit times. Prioritize reporters' safety first!

For starters, I have a selfie stick, not a 10K camera with a crew and body guard. I am in extremely hostile areas where I must focus on my surroundings. If it is dark, I have light which makes me a sitting duck, easy target. Please make the SPECIFIC TIME. Don't make me wait.

The longer I am waiting, the more of a target I am. Some producers have put me in that situation. Obviously, unintentional, but I think it also is because I am freelance and I am not their priority. Anyway, I just won't do their shows anymore.

IT CAN GET ME KILLED!!!!

Also, make my job easier. I know why you ask for notes but keep in mind that my Twitter TL are my notes. I post what I see on my TL. It is tough to do pre interviews because it is not always safe to do so. It helps the producer and I get it. But it can also put me at risk.

If it weren't for the $$$ support, I would feel even more vulnerable out here. I don't think some of the producers who work with me appreciate every little ask stresses me out because I am dealing with safety issue. Takeaway: don't make me do extra FREE work for you.

My reporters notebook is my Twitter, in many respects. Not all but a lot of it. Please go there and find my tweets. They are very much fact gathering as any video or article I produce. It would help me a lot.

I'd feel better about doing pre interviews if I were paid.

But I am not paid. I am producing content for free for billion dollar organizations that benefit from my work. All I ask is that you help me by checking my Twitter, which can serve as notes as safely as I can disclose. I can do the pre interviews, but know its a lot of work.

And that work is uncompensated for me risking my life. I do this work because I love it and I want the world to know what is happening here.

I also know these networks are exploiting my labor.

I am not complaining as much as I am saying that people assume I have a lot more than I actually do. I will never be compensated for the work I have already done. I have to accept that and I am considering not doing any more appearances.

I am so zeroed in to my work that I forget I deserve compensation. But I am also realizing that I am being exploited for the "no pay, but exposure" angle these networks play. It is beginning to wear on me because I feel severely under appreciated.

Anyway, I only write this to say because I am doing this work with my pay and no prospect of pay for what I have already done, please make my job easier if I give you my time and your mega rich organizations don't give me a dime and wold never think to do so.

That is all I ask: care about me to not make me do extra work to make your segments perfect and your job anchors' jobs easier. It helps you, but it makes me exploited. And I am reaching my tipping point so you may not see me on TV anymore.

I'm not angry. I'm just being realistic. I need to share what is happening with me. I may just stick to Twitter and work on the support of my followers, which I may be the best course moving forward. I will fulfill my scheduled hits but will stop after that unless I am paid.

If you see me on TV next week, it will be cause I am paid. If you don't see me on TV, it will be because these networks REFUSE to pay me.

Just letting you know in advance.

And because I am in a war zone, I will not accept a cheap rate from major networks. I am honestly fed up with this.

In 24 hours, I reported, from the scene, on a shooting of suspected saboteurs and a Russian air strike I barely missed. Support me with $$$ if you can.

CashApp: $TerrellJStarr cash.app/$TerrellJStarr
Venmo: Terrell-Starr venmo.com/u/Terrell-Starr
PayPal: paypal.me/terrellstarr

In fact, all of my TV hits tomorrow and in the future are cancelled unless I am paid. I am drawing a line in the sand. And I don't care if I ever appear on TV again.

I will not be exploited!

Thank you to all who have provided $$$ support. You are my REAL viewers.

If you are a producer who is expecting me to appear on your show this week, tell your boss who controls the money to run me my check (and a nice one) or don't waste time. I won't do your shows anymore.