Monday 11 August 2008

Citizen ripoffs

What was paid for the exclusive amateur video footage of the Toronto propane explosion yesterday that chillingly looked like a fiery atomic mushroom cloud?

In this day of citizen journalists, 50 bucks, if that.

It was worth much more than $50, but dwindling ethics in the media and an uniformed public are providing print and broadcast media with bargain basement photos and video footage.

And that is inexcusable.

Freelance reporters and photographers have had a difficult time being paid a fare wage in a very competitive market, so much so that many have joined the Canadian Freelance Union.

Then along comes Joe Citizen gleefully giving away newsworthy photographs and video footage for nothing, or next to nothing, not knowing the true value of what they are holding.

Perhaps it is ego that motivates most citizen journalists - seeing their photographs in newspapers or video footage on TV, the Internet and YouTube. Yep, it's quite a buzz.

But they should be made aware of the potential value of exclusive photos and footage.

Before uploading photographs and video for free, they should be told freelancers are paid $150 and up for routine news and much more for one-of-kind exclusives.

Some exclusive photos and video can be worth thousands and even millions if it involves Hollywood stars and/or their newborn babies.

But it is not always Hollywood. The Toronto Sun reportedly paid $10,000 for wedding photos of sex killers Karla and Paul in the 1990s.

With citizen journalists lining up today to submit photographs and video footage for free, or for peanuts, media bean counters are beaming from ear to ear. It is a cheap way of filling the product.

Citizen journalists need to be educated and properly compensated by media conglomerates that are making money at their expense.

How many citizen journalists know enough to say they are providing photos and footage for one time use only? Few, no doubt. All control of future use is being abandoned by many.

They should also know when to hold 'em for appropriate payment for exclusive shots and even seek higher bids with the assistance of a broker.

And they should be given full credit when their photographs and video footage are used.

To pay them $50, if anything, and use their photos and footage without a credit is shameful and unethical.

Sadly, citizen journalists are not being educated and print and broadcast media won't be speaking up on their behalf, not when they are reaping the benefits of their ignorance.

To the anonymous person who captured that spectacular propane explosion, we hope you got more than a handshake.

Much more.

1 comment:

  1. While this is a great point, why not focus on what the media profession has much more control over and is a much bigger problem: free internships.

    Let me steal some of your words and alter a litte:

    ----

    With INTERNS lining up today to submit COPY, photographs and video footage for free, or for peanuts, EDITORS are beaming from ear to ear. It is a cheap way of filling the product.

    INTERNS need to be educated and properly compensated by media conglomerates that are making money at their expense.

    ----

    There is no wonder journalism doesn't pay fair value. Just about every journo around gives away their talent after graduation and the Editors are all to eager to support this. It's tough, sure: if they are not free, the bean counters won't sign off. But this is the bigger problem pushing wages down and the industry should find a way to address this head on.

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