Agh, I hate to be quoting Fox News but it’s one of the few places that seems to be talking about this issue. Bloggers are fed up with payrates, we want insurance, and we want to be able to set standards on how this industry — online publishing is run.
One of the issues that particularly has troubled me in the last few years is how blog networks pay their bloggers. Most of them offer a percentage of profits that a blog makes rather than paying by the post, or one of many what I consider more ethical alternatives.
While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support staff are raking in huge salaries and getting VC Money to help furnish their homes. I don’t like it. It smells funny.
While this Fox News’ story is talking about political bloggers. It’s applicable industry wide.
In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to form a labor union they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards.
The effort is an extension of the blogosphere’s growing power and presence, especially within the political realm, and for many, evokes memories of the early labor organization of freelance writers in the early 1980s.
Organizers hope a bloggers’ labor group will not only showcase the growing professionalism of the Web-based writers, but also the importance of their roles in candidates’ campaigns.
Source: Fox News
34 responses so far ↓
Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? || Aug 6, 2007 at 6:13 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? · New York Articles || Aug 6, 2007 at 6:45 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? · Articles || Aug 6, 2007 at 6:49 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? | Tekjuice.com || Aug 6, 2007 at 7:09 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
NexGen Technology Blog » Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? || Aug 6, 2007 at 7:39 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Ajax Girl » Blog Archive » Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? || Aug 6, 2007 at 8:14 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? | moraaz.org - feed all tech! || Aug 6, 2007 at 9:38 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Multimedias.mobi » Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? || Aug 6, 2007 at 9:48 am
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
John Evans (Syntagma) || Aug 6, 2007 at 10:19 am
David, as you rightly imply, take away the VC money and there’s little left for anyone in most blog networks to make massive money. The idea that it can be unionized and put on the same footing as other industries is crazy. There simply isn’t enough money in original content creation to sustain it — with some rare exceptions, of course.
As a network owner myself, I’ve learnt to cut costs and work on low margins. This gives me a decent income. But I work a lot harder than our writers, who just put in an hour a day. What’s there to unionize?
David Krug || Aug 6, 2007 at 12:09 pm
John,
I really wasn’t attempting to point out those media groups who hire folks who are working an hour or two a day. I’m mostly pointing out groups who use bloggers across many sites and who work 8-10 hours a day and make peanuts.
Guys like you and me who do work our tails off and take care of our people don’t really have to worry about unions IMO.
Unionized Blogging | TechWag || Aug 6, 2007 at 12:24 pm
[...] what you need on a Monday morning is the press, Techcrunch, wall street journal and others talking about unionizing bloggers because. Pick your reason; pick your method, the idea of [...]
Just a random blog ! || Aug 6, 2007 at 1:55 pm
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
Five Reasons Bloggers Don’t Need a Labor Union || Aug 6, 2007 at 2:08 pm
[...] appears some left-wing political bloggers are trying to form a labor union in hopes they’ll receive health insurance and better working standards. Here are five [...]
jeremy wright || Aug 6, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Where are these networks who pay bloggers “pennies” while raking in massive luxury lifestyle salaries?
Any proof at all of this claim?
Should Bloggers Unionize? Better Question: Why Do You Blog? : The Blog Herald || Aug 6, 2007 at 3:04 pm
[...] meme floated out by Duncan Riley and Dave Krug (both of whom are BlogHerald alumni, the former being the original editor and the latter being a [...]
The Economics of Unionizing Bloggers || Aug 6, 2007 at 3:52 pm
[...] context can be found at Telegraphik. Not because he has any kind of salient insights, but because he does direct the argument [...]
Jeremy Wright || Aug 6, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I’ve responded, in depth, on my blog, just to put this silly, silly angle of network bloggers being paid pennies while the owners become fat cats, to bed.
I’ve also tackled the real costs of moving to this model - just so folk can see how it would fundamentally change the industry in ways people do NOT want:
My response.
Should Bloggers Create A Labor Union? || Aug 6, 2007 at 5:21 pm
[...] biggest concern and cause for the "union talk" is probably best described by David Krug who writes that "one of the issues that particularly has troubled me in the last few years is [...]
RobotSkirts » Blog Archive » Bloggers Pushing For A Labor Union || Aug 6, 2007 at 5:22 pm
[...] Bloggers Pushing For A Labor Union Written by David Krug, a man who has cut and run before leaving many bloggers unpaid. Idiot. [...]
Blogger’s Labor Union? — Metadish, Fresh from NYC || Aug 6, 2007 at 5:22 pm
[...] it seems that few “left-leaning” bloggers are starting to push for a labor union to organize bloggers, set an industry standard and receive health benefits. In a move that might [...]
Is Blogging Ready For a Unionized Workforce? | Myspace Ownz You || Aug 6, 2007 at 5:24 pm
[...] David Krug at Telegraphik puts it: While some bloggers in networks are making pennies per the hour the network CEO’s and support [...]
David Krug || Aug 6, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Jeremy,
I’ve left the point and make accusations of specific networks games and returned to my private albeit smokey days. I can say from experience that some networks do take care of bloggers better than others.
Here’s one for you. How much does INSERT NETWORK pay? If you feel guilty after asking that question then do something about it. Otherwise I wouldn’t stress it.
dotw || Aug 6, 2007 at 6:43 pm
This is stupid. No one ‘forcing’ anyone to work for a blog network or site. Anyone who feels oppressed can very easily start a blog, then it is up to the community to decide it’s value. If the writing is worth anything, your audience will grow, you can sell ads etc… It is hard work, however and one needs to do more than write. It also takes some coding, design etc..
All this whining is from writers who want to take no risk, spend nothing on design, tech, marketing, equipment etc…, and just want to be paid.
Get real
David Krug || Aug 6, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Hmm. I’m not whining just reporting the news.
Bloggers Unite! Bloggers Beginning Grassroots Movement to Unionize | One By One Media || Aug 6, 2007 at 7:35 pm
[...] read via my friend David Krug at Telegraphik that bloggers in the political arena are want to start their own Blogger’s Union. [...]
Bloggers of the world unite all we have to lose is our jobs! | A View from the Isle || Aug 6, 2007 at 11:38 pm
[...] of us are starting with this post Telegraphik–Bloggers Pushing For A Labor Union as the starting point for discussion. My buddy and partner Jim wrote at OBO: This [...]
In Anchor » Why Bloggers Don’t Need a Labor Union || Aug 7, 2007 at 12:26 am
[...] appears some left-wing political bloggers are trying to form a labor union in hopes they’ll receive health insurance and better working standards. Here are five [...]
The Virtual Handshake Blog | » A Bloggers Union? No Thanks! || Aug 7, 2007 at 11:24 am
[...] some talk going around the blogosphere, being pushed by David Krug of Telegraphik, of unionizing blogging. Krug makes it sound like this is the [...]
Another Perspective on Unionized Blogging : The Blog Herald || Aug 9, 2007 at 1:16 pm
[...] sure, people who earn from blogging–particularly for the blog networks–would want to improve their earnings and get more benefits. True enough, blogging for income is not without its drawbacks. And this JOAB [...]
Podcast 2007.2: Chartruese returns and why unions for bloggers are a bad idea : The Blog Herald || Aug 20, 2007 at 2:50 am
[...] Bloggers Pushing for a Labor Union Digg itListen Now: [...]
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Bryghtpath LLC » Blog Archive » Bryghtpath LLC acquires Telegraphik || Apr 5, 2008 at 3:26 pm
[...] was launched by David Krug who quickly built it into a well known online property. Whether it was discussing whether or not bloggers needed a union or looking at the latest star coming off of Youtube, Telegraphik was right in the middle of [...]
Gawker slices pay of Valleywag writers & some thoughts on blogger pay : The Blog Herald || Apr 6, 2008 at 12:03 am
[...] discussed blogger pay previously and others have discussed unions - which is a very dumb idea in my [...]
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