Freelance photographers at the New York Times are getting hit really where it hurts – their wallets. According to a New York Post article, photographers who work with the New York Times but are not on staff will be required to sign a freelance contract that borders on the ridiculous.
One disgusted photographer said that the new contract “demands that photographers relinquish their copyright, resale opportunities and entire take, without any added compensation.”
The American Society of Media Photographers and Editorial Photographers are fighting hard to bring some parity to a moribund dialogue between management and freelancers.
Quite frankly, the Gray Lady is shooting herself in the foot (no pun intended). Lower wages and total control of images (from copyright to resale) means the paper will likely drive good (or even great photographers) out of business and attract low-ballers (those who choose to sell their work rather than license their images for a rate far lower than the competition or the market really demands). Unless the paper is hiring photojournalists, any work submitted to the paper will now be of lesser quality and the veracity and credibility of the images published in the paper, in my opinion, will be suspect. When you have seasoned photographers who have some sense of ethics being effectively fired from their jobs only to be replaced by hacks, well, you know American journalism can expect more troubles ahead.
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photosuperstar says
AP pulled this not too long ago with it’s stringers here in the States. They fought it and got some justice, but not much. The NFL had all news photographers sign some absolutely ridiculous contract just to get a pass to shoot for your publication. This is really disappointing.
photosuperstar says
AP pulled this not too long ago with it’s stringers here in the States. They fought it and got some justice, but not much. The NFL had all news photographers sign some absolutely ridiculous contract just to get a pass to shoot for your publication. This is really disappointing.
Seshu says
Yep. Turn which way and freelancers are geting screwed (and squeezed). Perhaps a legion of shitty photographers for these publications will get them to rethink their preposterous position. It’s only a matter of time that their policies are going to bite them in the ass and … hard. The way I see it – it’s not a WIN/WIN situation and that’s really the sad part.
Seshu says
Yep. Turn which way and freelancers are geting screwed (and squeezed). Perhaps a legion of shitty photographers for these publications will get them to rethink their preposterous position. It’s only a matter of time that their policies are going to bite them in the ass and … hard. The way I see it – it’s not a WIN/WIN situation and that’s really the sad part.
prakash Sankar says
I am looking for a desi freelance photographer to help me with a few stock photos for my web startup.
The theme is indians working in US
Kindly contact me.
Thanks
Prakash123 at gmail.com
prakash Sankar says
I am looking for a desi freelance photographer to help me with a few stock photos for my web startup.
The theme is indians working in US
Kindly contact me.
Thanks
Prakash123 at gmail.com