Compliment with one hand, slap with the other.

It's been mentioned that the problem may stem from a glut of writers in the market thanks to newspapers closing their doors. Yes and no. The problem runs deeper than just an increase in freelancers. I would think the problem is in trying to curb the costs of two publication media — print and Internet. And I get that it's a problem. I don't get how it's my problem. Or your problem. Or any writer's problem. It should be a business problem that requires a rethinking of the business model, not of the pay scale. Yes, they could conceivably reduce the prices they pay, but there's a serious problem that runs deeper than what freelancers are being paid if the solution is to stop paying for freelance work. That indicates to me either someone who isn't running their business efficiently, or someone who is trying to get something for nothing. The former can be fixed. The latter should be thrashed.

Paula, I didn't quite get why that made it okay, either. And I suspect there was a word count he was trying to make.

You're so right — good writers add to the bottom line, not detract from it. I know their print issue is filled with talent that I go back for, and have renewed that subscription for three times now. Good writers are an investment, not an expenditure.

And if his bloated manifesto is any indicator of his writing skills, he must have lucked into his job. A better writer could have made his point in half as many words.

When I severed ties with LatePayer I reminded them how important good writers are to their bottom line. Without writers the sales team has nothing to entice advertisers. Without writers there is nothing for subscribers to read. Without writers there is no publication – print or online.

I totally get why unethical publications do this: It saves them money. (Ethical publications don't do it because it's wrong to profit off others' unpaid talent.)

However, as you and Andrew Sullivan pointed out on his blog, it's funny how only writers are being asked to work for free. It's not designers. It's not editors. It's not ad sales people. The critical team member who can make or break your success by connecting with the reader, that's the one you screw?

On the flip side, I will never understand those who give their work for free. Never.

Have writers learned nothing from the Arianna debacle? I mean, the woman sold a company built off free labor for more than $300 million, and people are STILL writing for that damn for-profit corporation for free. Stuns me.

See, you got me going again. Perhaps I needed to be charged up. 🙂

Same reason I won't view it, and why I've never clicked on or read anything coming from Huffington Post. If you don't pay, I don't give you my time. Period.

I'm not going to view THE ATLANTIC's online content, and I have not renewed my subscription, either.

It used to be both a prestigious publication and an ethical one. This non-payment is a serious breach of ethics, in my opinion.

why should I be punished for both being good at my job and loving it?