In Defense of FREE: Why I Don't Care That Arianna Doesn't Pay Me

Full disclosure: I've been writing for the Huffington Post since February of 2008. And I haven't made a dime.

You see, Arianna Huffington doesn't pay her bloggers (cue sound of the needle abruptly skating across the vinyl). Not Bill Maher. Not Joe the Blogger. Not me.

To hear the vilifying from some critics you'd think the site was violating child labor laws while simultaneously bringing the downfall of serious journalism. Of course, these haters--some of whom I admire--could easily have an axe to grind with a 21st Century new media baron who grows more influential even as their old media outlets struggle. No one could blame them for not cheering on a write-for-free model while their very jobs become more tenuous each day. Any sign of the mainstream acceptance of FREElance journalism further darkens the already cloudy skies over the entire professional community. Yes, I get it.

And sure, in a perfect world, I'd love to be getting paid for this post. But I have my own agenda and I'm willing to do it for the valuable exposure I get. The HuffPo is full of contributors just like me. Authors write pieces to promote the sale of more books. Consultants opine to grow their franchises. Politicians mount their soapbox because they know their constituents are there. Even starfuckers show up with the hope of having their piece sit next to Alec Baldwin's. We all have own raison d'être for being there. Arianna has assembled the Web's best cocktail party and seemingly everybody wants to be on the list.

To the old media malcontents, I'd say, "How easy is it for me to blog on your site?" The Internets are crowded with millions of voices yearning to be free. FREE! Like most bloggers, I can spend countless hours learning to tune up my site using SEO, SEM, paid search, blah, blah, blah, and still have only a tiny fraction of the monthly eyeballs the HuffPo gets in an hour. That's just the reality of the Web. When you really look at the traffic the average site generates, you see the Web is actually a big lonely place. And without real traffic, you're just preaching in an echo chamber.

But what's probably most infuriating to Arianna's critics is the fact that she simply doesn't have to pay her bloggers. When former generals, chiefs of staff, A-list actors, hip-hop moguls and magazine publishers offer you 500 word missives for free, why change up your formula to hush a few critics?

And, in the end, the free market media economy will drive the HuffPo model to success or failure. If the site can continue to exploit the fervor of writers, marketers, soap-boxers and celebrities, then it can thrive without paying them. But if another outlet (say Tina Brown's The Daily Beast, or Dan Abrams' Mediaite) comes along and can attract the same breadth, level and notoriety of writers--and pay them--that may change the game. I'm perfectly comfortable letting the market--and the personal decision of contributors--decide what ultimately works.

Decrying from the inaccessible halls of corporate media about how the HuffPo is ruining journalism? Just seems like protectionist old think to me. Or jealousy. Plus, Arianna's thousands of contributors and millions of readers don't seem to mind. And no, she didn't pay me to write this.

Posted first for free on my blog.

Follow Raymond Leon Roker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/raymondroker

Comments

[Jamie Frevele - Huffpost Blogger]

As someone who is merely a wannabe at this point, I'm very grateful and appreciative of being part of the cocktail party. To say nothing of those people who read my posts out of a sheer interest in what I have to say instead of who I am. Or who I'm not.

By the way, to those who do read, watch and post my material: THANK YOU.

[oregonbird]

Hey, guess why there are only 19 posts! Right! Funny how obvious it is that professionals prefer their work to pay bills and support their families. Weird how writers can't live on the fame of being published.. but the publisher can afford the best suits and manicures for television appearances.

[Raymond Leon Roker - Huffpost Blogger]

I don't discount the hard work of paid journalists. But please don't discount my platform either. Snipe away at your own peril.

And at the risk of even further defending Arianna, she could already afford the best suits and manicures long before this.

P.S. Re: comments, check my previous post.

[Cranbot]

Yes, absolutely this site gives certain people a bigger audience and the net itself is a huge step forward in sharing info all around the world. But like everything else in the bottom line society - how does anyone get paid for their work? Craig's List is full of "opportunities" for writers if you are wiling to accept $5 per column.
It is also full of opportunities for photographers to "build their portfolio" by shooting their event or wedding for free. How far down do we go until no one is paid for anything they contribute? Look at CNN's iReport. So many regular folks are so jazzed to be mentioned for their photos or posts that they will give away their first hand accounts that several years ago would have been paid for. When you give everything away for free then everything you do is expected of you for free.

[MC71]

OK, so we've established that you and other bloggers here have enough money and do this as a hobby or because you have a serious belief that the world needs to hear your voice. Newspapers have a place for that, too: the opinion page, letters to the editor and guess op-eds. But "letters" doesn;t sound as, you know, lofty and hip as "blog." So, as newspapers die -- for lots of reasons, free blogs being among them -- what DOES separate you and the others from scabs that undermine union workers?

[tlgeiger62]

Easy - they're NOT IN IT FOR THE MONEY!!!

[tlgeiger62]

HP Poster NewArtz said it best:

"The free press is about the power of the idea, the power of the word and the wealth of information."

It's not about money.

[Weirdwriter]

Excellent option piece.

Now, can we get another question answered? Does HP pay its "moderators" who are supposed to screen out the constant stream of malicious comments that are in blatant violation of HP's own rules?

[Raymond Leon Roker - Huffpost Blogger]

Agreed, it would be a great place to put some more paid staff. My last post had 1000 comments and it got a tad messy. I can't imagine what happens when I see 10,000 comments.

[Jonty Este]

Apologies if some professional journalist has already made this point, but with respect, Raymond's post contains not a single new fact: you know, the things that journalists are paid to dig up, hopefully something that someone, somewhere doesn't want published. As legendary British newspaper editor CP Scott said: "Comment is free, facts are sacred" - facts also tend to cost money to find.
I think the Huffington Post is an attractive addition to the media landscape, the world's biggest cocktail party, as you noted - but it won't take the place of commercial news organisations (and the BBC and - here in Australia, the ABC, which are high-quality, tax-payer funded news organisations) until someone figures out how to pay for the people whose job it is to chase down leads, make phone calls, doorstep politicians, ask hard questions, wade through documents, etc, etc. All the sort of stuff which probably doesn't look that exciting to anyone whose idea of journalism is simply writing what you think.
Declaration: I am a professional journalist, I didn't get paid for this and this comment contains no new facts. Sadly.

[Social Construct]

Absolutely and well stated. I'm sure Mr. Roker would agree about paid research and paid reporting. It was my understanding that the author regarded this forum as you stated; nothing more than a vehicle of exposure for writers of a variety of disciplines. And it's a great place to blow off some steam once in awhile!

[Jonty Este]

Thanks for this, Social - and I guess I understood what Raymond was getting at (and have no argument with it). But as the "charging for content" argument is running pretty hot - and the response of so many people is that: "well, I'll never pay, I want my news for free" - it needs someone to reinforce the point that news takes effort and costs money to produce. Unless, that is, we want to live in a world informed by press releases and suffering the sort of gaps in coverage David Simon was talking about when he said that corrupt local politicians and officials would be rubbing their hands with glee.

[Tony Zeoli]

Jonty,

Agreed that it takes dollars to generate the insight and leads to produce great journalism. Funny thing is, the people who seem to write for this cocktail party are the news, lol. And, therefore, they don't really have to create leads, just talk about their perspective on things. Seems like the media has taken a wide arc towards punditry over facts, because it's certainly cheaper to get celebrities to write for free than send someone like you into the lion's den to get the real story. One day it will all change. When that will be, I don't know. If I did, I'd be rich and writing for profit. I will say this. I am 1/28th the writer that Raymond Roker is and I enjoy reading his musings because he speaks for my generation. If he wants to do that for free, great? Bring it!

[Tony Zeoli]

I told you I was 1/28th...I won't even hit "preview" before I post. I suck.

[Raymond Leon Roker - Huffpost Blogger]

I am a huge fan of professional (paid) news journalism. And while I don't believe in media "charity', my hope is that we can develop some sort of endowed or non-profit model, etc to aid professional journalism. But that's a much longer piece.

I have opined plenty though, here's a sample:

http://pureroker.blogspot.com/2009/02/enough-already-save-great-newspaper.html

http://pureroker.blogspot.com/2008/12/true-cost-of-old-medias-demise.html

[NewArtz]

I really love this post. It helped clarify a discussion in which I was just involved. The free press is about the power of the idea, the power of the word and the wealth of information. For it to be about mere money is why the old saying is still new:

The LOVE of money IS the root of ALL evil.

[tlgeiger62]

Well put! I just used your response (giving credit) to another poster.

[Social Construct]

I agree. Well reasoned, informative and just the right amount of cynicism for my tastes. Publicists have been trading free gossip/information for free exposure for their celebrity clientele since, well, since celebrities have had publicists.

[MrGreenVibes]

Nicely done Raymond, Great Post!

[customgreen]

The proof is in the popularity. This site is wildly popular and is quoted more and more in the mainstream media. Arianna is becoming a media go to person for panel discussions, opinion, and point of view responses. If this site were not good it would have gone away a long time ago.

[WorkingClass]

I'm glad you have incentive to post here for free. I enjoy reading your posts. The Huffington Post is a publishing phenomenon and provides a "wealth" of quality free content to all comers. I love it. I do however hope a competitor will arrive who doesn't treat the commenters like children. I learn a lot from the bloggers but even more from the discussion that follows. Professional moderators would be a HUGE improvement. I balk at paying for content but I might subscribe to a forum that could both attract a lot of people and provide professional moderation.

[Glenn1441]

Great post. HuffPost is like a giant Op-Ed piece from which I can pick and choose those opinions or POVs resonate most, or not at all, with my own sensibilities.

I have a great deal of respect for A.H. as well.