Or rather - did get the freelance photo gig, but was offered £30/page, including all photos and words, so walked away laughing at the stupidity of publishers.
I wouldn't mind so much if it weren't a start-up mag aimed at a rich audience.
I'm getting so, very, very exasperated with business types who want the moon on a stick but aren't prepared to pay a fair rate for it.
Don McCullin, one of the most famous British (oops he prefers English) photographers, made his name through war photography. He said that when he began you might get five photographers covering something in the same place. When he finished you could have five hundred turning up. Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
But of course, 100% unionisation of any sector would be beyond my wildest dreams.
Those reasons are why photography is likely to remain a hobby (at most paying for the kit I have, over a number of years). Ad astra per aspera
It did strike me when I read the website that they are fairly powerless to do a great deal for photographers who work freelance and although they give recommendations on rates, they are fairly worthless if a large number of amateurs/enthusiasts sell their work for next to nothing and are ignorant about protecting their rights - just because it is nothing more than a hobby for them. Ad astra per aspera
Unionisation of freelancers is always very, very difficult to arrange. I'm sure a lot of photographers don't even realise the NUJ is relevant to them. And freelancers by nature are solitary. It's not like we'll be standing in picket lines, yelling 'scab' at people who are taking phone calls from editors.
I'm not sure what the solution is. (Actually I have an idea, but I'm still wondering how to implement it.)
But it is an issue as to how unions can support freelancers, for all the reasons you mention and more. Ad astra per aspera
Reminds me of the mag who wanted me to sell them 3 photos for less than 100 euros, and keep all the rights to the photos, also rights to use them anytime for any possible purpose without compensation or even notification. You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes. --More--
(Personal rant follows) I see crap like this, too. Some companies have truly small budgets; they are usually understanding if you won't accept their rates. But many others don't understand why they have to pay "reasonable" rates when they saw a flyer in the cafeteria from someone who'll edit text for $9/hr (that's an insulting rate), or why if you have your own recording equipment do you have to have separate fees for "talent" and "studio time." All you're doing is hitting the start-recording button, can't you include that in your talent fee? (Answer: NO.) Some websites have started up here in the last few years where companies place editing work offers on line and then ask for bids. I hate that. I hate the shark-pool environment, as if they can throw vague offers to us like chum and then sit back to watch the frenzy.</rant>
I think, if I recall correctly, they pay 125 € for a 1/4 page ( 1500 characters), 200€ for a full page, + 50 € for express delivery, interview expenses, per diems. mileage etc.
Even bog standard business translations run from 15 - 35 cents a word. For ad copy it can be up to 1.00 €
For photos we use the Gorilla price list (in Finnish, sorry)
as examples:
I am not recommending them, though I know writers who happily work for them and make a very decent living. The Media Planet MO is to tie editorial to advertising, so they sell prefinanced articles. Not my cup of tea. You can't be me, I'm taken
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