Comments on: Waving Goodbye

By: Katharine Swan

Katharine Swan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:50:15 +0000

Devon and Lori, that's funny that you bring up the advertorial thing, because I was just thinking the other day about a gig I took a few years ago, when I was a bit less experienced. The magazine wanted me to interview a few of their advertisers as part of the article, and I quite happily added several otheer sources to that. The article was accepted, but when it finally ran they'd literally chopped it in half, cutting out all of my added sources.

The article paid quite well and I had no inkling this was going to happen, so at the time I didn't think anything of it. But it occurred to me that if this happened now that I know better, I'd be pretty peeved about the ethical issues.

I'm considering saying goodbye to a client right now, not because of payment, but because of other issues. I was late on a couple of not-very-clearly-stated deadlines, and now my client is pretty much harassing me every time a deadline approaches. It's annoying because the lateness, while partly my fault, wasn't entirely, since my client wasn't really that communicative about the deadlines in the first place!

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:02:07 +0000

I'm still trying to process that your ex-client simply ignored a signed contract!

Would it have helped (on the final project, anyway) just to say you'd have to refer him to your attorney if he wanted to break the contract?

By: Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:35:35 +0000

If I have a prospective client ask for a discount on the first one with the promise of more work down the road, I handle it in one of two ways.

1) Most often, I tell the prospective client that I reward my steady, long term clients with discounts and if they have multiple projects they want to contract with me, we'll write a discount in on the back end. (That's usually enough to send them packing.)

2) If I decided to take on a new client's first project for a lower fee, I do so freely and without reservation. That is, I'm doing it because I like the project, think the client would be enjoyable to work with, and have some extra time to fill on my schedule. I make it clear the lower price is an exception, and if it doesn't turn out that the client can pay my normal rate in future, I've had a good time with the first project, and move on, no hard feelings. These types of projects are rare, but they have their place. I'm working on one right now where I slashed my fee because the guy is a startup with a product that is near and dear to my heart, he's enjoyable to work with, and even if there's no long term relationship, I've gotten lots of warm fuzzies from working on this project.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:25:03 +0000

I, too, have taken on work that paid a smidge less than what I would normally charge because of the promise of specific ongoing projects.

Then after starting the work, the client decides to change tactics, which they felt would be a better deal for me. I knew better.

They were surprised at my response. Instead of jumping on board with their plans, I bailed ship.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:35:41 +0000

That's advertisement disguised as an article, Devon. I agree with you – it's unethical because you're passing off content to your readers as factual when there's a clear bias. No thank you. I had one such magazine gig. The new editor was being pressured to use only advertisers as sources. He pushed back. Eventually, he and all his writers (I was one) walked away. I was proud to know that man, for he stood up for journalistic integrity and took it to heart. Amen. A breath of fresh air in this business.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:27:44 +0000

Lately? Not much. Earlier in the year, a publication that paid under my normal rate expected a ridiculous number of rewriters, and I could only mention (and was expected to mention) their affiliates in each article, which, to me, was unethical.

buh bye.