2.1.2. My publisher says my theater reviews serve the gay community, so I should be proud to work for zilch.
Description
This article is from the Natl Writers Union FAQ, by Vicki Richman nwufaq@vicric.com with numerous contributions by others.
2.1.2. My publisher says my theater reviews serve the gay community, so I should be proud to work for zilch.
In bargaining with a publisher, freelancers should remember
that, unlike wages for typical employees, our pay is not
necessarily proportional to our labor. A writer falls into
the professional or artistic category, in which the venue,
the arena or the client is more significant than the hours
worked.
A Hollywood star, who commands eight figures for a film, may
do an Off-Off-Broadway gig for the union minimum. A successful
attorney, who bills corporate clients at $300 per hour, may
waive any fee in representing a falsely accused indigent.
Likewise, a writer may contribute an article without payment
to a small-circulation journal that sees service to society
as a higher cause than selling copies. However, that same
writer may demand five grand for the same article sought by
a mainstream magazine with millions of readers and more
advertising than editorial content.
That is good union practice, with ample precedent. However,
the writer should not be hoodwinked into free work for a
publisher reaping the profits. It is common for
special-interest publishers to convince gay and lesbian
writers -- and other minorities -- that they are working for
a noble cause. We are "honor-bound" to donate our
professional services -- or so they tell us -- for some
hypothetical greater good meaning little or nothing to the
publisher.
Asking victims of societal discrimination to work for
nothing just because they are victims -- that's both
hypocrisy and discrimination, as it shams indignation
against exclusion to exploit and profit from exclusion.
Judge your venue. If it is genuine _pro bono_ work, be proud
to donate your services. The greatest writers have done
their greatest work for free. But if it is a publisher's
scam to increase profits with cheap labor, go to your union
grievance officer at once. The union may be able to help you
get the pay you have earned.
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