Responses
Anthony, 5/16/2005, 6:13:41 PM
See if you can set up a system where they receive academic credit for their work.
Your adviser would grade their work, post-publication, offer comments and suggestions for future writing, and the writer could receive a grade at the end of each semster.
Anonymous, 5/17/2005, 9:53:17 AM
Keep in mind that a paycheck doesn't always attract the best writers - sometimes it just attracts people looking for a paycheck.
Robert, Editor-in-Chief The Reporter, 5/21/2005, 6:16:48 PM
This problem has plagued Stetson's publication for a while now. And I have to agree with the anonymous poster. The paycheck doesn't always attract the best writers. It offers little motivation. Our organization is still in the process of trying to figure out what to do to help keep writers motivated and attract more. However, I think a lot of recruting new writers has to do with the perception of the newspaper rather than any form of compensation.
km, 5/24/2005, 7:27:50 PM
Academic credit does work well. Students can take it pass fail or for a grade and must submit a minimum number of items (words count for stories) to satisfy one, two or three credit worth of work. Work that has not been spell checked, name checked or turned in by deadline receives a deduction in credit. Students would have to write more, take more photos, etc the next issue to make it up.
CS, 5/27/2005, 6:24:34 PM
At our paper, the only people paid right off the bat are the editors (chief, assistant, section, copy). Staff writers are paid per issue, but in order to become a staff writer, you must be published at least five times.
Something new we're working on is a 10 percent deduction per day that the work is inexcusably late.
The point of a paycheck should be to keep writers, not attract them.
Sara, 6/2/2005, 3:11:46 PM
Has anybody had experience with this issue at a liberal arts campus? There's no journalism department and the head of our English dpt. refuses to give academic credit because it would be a pre-professional program.
G. Ellison, NMC White Pine Press, 6/10/2005, 10:12:25 AM
If it helps, we've set up a system where non-staff writers are paid on a per peice basis, much like freelancers. They are considered independent contractors by the college, and although there are some forms to fill out each time, its nice to have the option. Otherwise there is a semester stipend payment for staffers based soley on performance.
Chirag Desai, 6/11/2005, 1:42:01 AM
At the Triangle, Drexel U. (philadelphia) student newspaper, we do not pay any staff. As a result, we've tried to come up with different ways to compensate our staff.
We offer free food during production nights and meetings, we have a term-end dinner open to all staff (and fully paid by the paper). At the dinner, we also give out recognition awards ($25 gift certificates each to B&N - our bookstore, best buy or such) to those who've done a great job each term - this is only for non-title holders, and one EIC award, to someone on staff for outstanding work during the term.
We've also arranged with our local cinema hall to give us free movie tickets (open for any movie) in place of ad space; so we hand these out for good work as well.
Hope this helps,
Chirag Desai
EIC, The Triangle
http://www.thetriangle.org/
Rob V., 6/21/2005, 2:02:58 PM
Chirag,
Those are great ideas. I think compensation comes in all kinds of varieties - not just a paycheck. One of the biggest things that many people often overlook is atmosphere. Sometimes the best reward for a student is a place that is fun, exciting, and friendly. Maybe it's not a great recruiting device, but it certainly makes for great retention.
Rob Velella
Red & Black adviser
Washington & Jefferson College
Michelle , 6/23/2005, 1:13:31 PM
We get our A and E writers free tickets to shows or free CD's. They really like that. Our sports writers just like getting into the press boxes at our hockey games, so that works out.
However, about half of our writers aren't so amazing that they should be compensated. The other half... well, they're awesome, and most of them are already getting paid because they're editors or they will be some day.
