Hi Ed,
At my internship last year, I was assigned a freelance piece. I turned it in as the editor specified, but months later, I haven’t seen a dime of the over $1,000 that I’m owed. At this point I’d even take the kill fee! I know things are busy and they don’t have a ton of time to send my evergreen article into revise, but as I’m now living on an assistant salary, any money would go a long way. Do I keep bugging them? Beg? Get angry?
Thanks,
A, New York City
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Dear A,
Do you have a contract for this story? If so, refer to the details there. There probably is a clause that you’ll get paid only when the piece has been “accepted,” i.e. when the editors have deemed that they don’t need further revisions or reporting from you and it’s in editable condition. Try your main contact one more time, and if she’s not responsive, see if you can figure out who the assistant to the managing editor is. This person, usually an editorial assistant, may keep track of all the contracts and can likely get an answer for you from the managing editor about what your story’s status is, as in if it’s still being reviewed or if it’s been deemed kill-able. Since she’s an EA, she’s also more likely to get back to you than a higher-up. Give it some time and if you’re still not hearing anything, it may be worth it to you to get a lawyer.
If you don’t have a contract, besides pestering your editor, there isn’t much you can do. Try getting in touch once more (by phone, and not by leaving a message that she won’t return), and if you still don’t get a hold of her, try forwarding the e-mails where you were assigned the story to the assistant to the managing editor and ask her if 1. you’ll be getting a contract and 2. what the status of the story is. As frustrating as this is, stay polite, but persistent, and you won’t piss anyone off.
If anywhere in these e-mails it says you were writing this on spec, then, unfortunately, they don’t owe you a dime.
Good luck,
Ed
