Posted on by Leslie

Interesting idea

As magazines and newspapers fold in greater numbers with each passing day, it is interesting that this new site has launched: True/Slant. There, individual journalists post their own stories. Each journalist is her/his own brand and the site is merely a place to centralize the information.

It used to be that journalists were lucky to get bylines. Now, they are the brand.

We need to look at this new model for other creative fields. How might this work for photo-journalists for example? (Hey Rob @APhotoEditor…thoughts?).

I have sent T/S an email asking if they are considering adding PJs to the mix. If I hear anything significant from them, I’ll let you know.

6 Replies to “Interesting idea”

  1. Leslie – interesting but they, like so many others, have an overly far-reaching rights grab in their TOC

    However, you grant to True/Slant and True/Slant’s affiliates, representatives, and assigns an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, fully-paid, royalty-free, world-wide, license (sublicensable through multiple tiers) to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, publicly perform, and publicly display your User Submissions (including all related intellectual property rights, in whole or in part) in any format or medium now known or later developed. To the extent allowed by law, the foregoing includes all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as or referred to as “Moral Rights.” To the extent you retain any such Moral Rights under applicable law, you hereby ratify and consent to any action that may be taken with respect to such moral rights by True/Slant and agree not to assert any Moral Rights with respect thereto.

    1. Whoops! I didn’t read the T&Cs yet! I’ll ask them about them if we get the chance.
      -Leslie

  2. @David I’ve read the full rights and in context, they aren’t as bad as you are making them out to be. They state clearly, in several places, that they make no claims to the copyright of the works submitted. The license language is a bit broad, but not so much that I would say it goes too far. There are no 3rd party rights, for example, and there is a whole separate section about copyright and how users can’t take content.
    -Leslie

  3. Leslie,

    True/Slant Interesting Idea but I didn’t see any advertising. How are they making money?

    First off I’m not expert or authority just a guy with some thoughts on the matter.

    I’m a former photojournalist/photo editor. I have had similar thoughts about continuing photojournalism. The question that stalls that idea is how can I sustain myself doing photojournalism?

    My former employer of 20 years was the East Valley Tribune who recently won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. For lack of better words they have been reduced to a “free” three day a week advertising supplement with some news content. The photography budget for the entire department is about $380.00 a month. No stringer budget at all.

    Down the street the 800 pound Gorilla the Gannett owned Arizona Republic. I can’t speak for them but I know they have their own problems with continued lay-offs and downsizing.

    Most photojournalist who are laid-off made enough money to keep themselves employed but not enough to save a nest egg. The only nest egg I got was the relationships I developed over the years. That has been the one huge plus that has helped me reinvent myself and my business.

    I can’t speak for magazines but small, medium and many large newspapers are not spending money on freelancers or freelance content. They use “free interns” and subscribe to AP or some other giant news service. Even if you had a ton of content coming in their still needs to be someone on the receiving end to pick it up. Its been my experience copy editors are looking for the news of the day not in-depth projects or fluff.

    Associated Press for example has a fast easy searchable interface that work seamlessly with the newspapers IT systems. A world wide network of world news content and archives.

    Could it be that independents need to get in bed with a giants to survive. How does a person who recently got laid off compete?

    I have taken the commercial route at least I can make some money. Strangely the people who hire me want the photojournalist style and efficiency of my shooting. In this realm my work is appreciated. I don’t have to put up with the anger and disdain the public and law enforcement have for photojournalists. So far it has been a refreshing departure but one that has been extremely challenging.

    It will be interesting to see innovation over the next few years.

  4. Leslie – I would argue that asking for irrevocable, perpetual, sublicensable [i.e. 3rd party distribution] is going too far. Furthermore the moral rights clause means they can claim authorship of submissions.

    They also can transfer assign or delegate their rights as they wish.

    They also can change the Terms in any way at any time, and still retain all rights.

    They also require you to indemnify them against all claims.

  5. “sublicensable though multiple tiers” is, I believe, referring to interal use through multiple channels–not 3rd party.

    They specifically disclaim ownership in several other sections, including the whole section on copyright, so the moral rights clause isn’t an issue.

    And the indemnification is against you posting illegal works.

    All seems fine to me.

    Again, I am NOT a lawyer!

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