Non-responding editors
13/12/04 12:38 Media
issues
It may be unseasonal but I'm in the mood for a rant.
I've seen a number of articles recently, in the press
and online, from freelances like me. They all seem to
centre around how dreadful it is that editors don't
respond when someone is pitching a useful article.
Myself, I don't take it personally. I think it pays to bear in mind that the freelance journalist is effectively cold-calling people with story ideas, and like any cold-calling sales activity (and we are selling, please don't kid yourself otherwise) the odds are against a positive response. There's certainly no given right to a personal reply.
I don't have any figures on journalism to hand, but I do know that the average return on a mailshot in most industries is 2-3 per cent. I can't help but wonder how many of the freelances who complain so vehemently are actually making several times that ratio of sales - and still moaning like anything...
Myself, I don't take it personally. I think it pays to bear in mind that the freelance journalist is effectively cold-calling people with story ideas, and like any cold-calling sales activity (and we are selling, please don't kid yourself otherwise) the odds are against a positive response. There's certainly no given right to a personal reply.
I don't have any figures on journalism to hand, but I do know that the average return on a mailshot in most industries is 2-3 per cent. I can't help but wonder how many of the freelances who complain so vehemently are actually making several times that ratio of sales - and still moaning like anything...
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