View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
June 6, 2008

The microeconomics of churnalism

By Peter Kirwan MM blog

From The Churner Prize, here’s an IM chat that took place between a tech freelancer and a commissioning editor who works for “a well-known publishing outfit responsible for some high-profile print and web titles”.

CommishEd: fancy a bit of news freelancing?
TechHack: can do
CommishEd: goodo
CommishEd: £75 a day for three stories, at least 200 words (give or take) each
CommishEd: they can be filed any time
TechHack: goodo
TechHack: so
TechHack: 600 words
TechHack: for £75
CommishEd: er, i guess so
TechHack: not so great
CommishEd: well, no
CommishEd: but then it’s hardly cutting edge journalism
CommishEd: the pay is commensurate with the effort required to write the pieces, i think

Churner’s interpretation? “We’re all fucked.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network