tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post5986017032102193556..comments2024-03-22T12:10:24.496+00:00Comments on INKY SQUIGGLES: 'Your Trial Period is for Life': WhatCulture and the Culture of Artist Exploitation sarahsometimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11496705491341205673noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-14175771101848676332014-05-07T12:47:47.499+01:002014-05-07T12:47:47.499+01:00I worked for them for pretty much 12 months only t...I worked for them for pretty much 12 months only to be let go because of "downscaling". I was their 3rd most viewed contributor, reaped huge article views for them, but then they just dropped me because - in my view - I didn't contribute for a month (I was more focused on passing my University course).<br /><br />The real reason was, I think, that I was earning too much money - perhaps they wanted it themselves? After I earned a lot the first month of the payment scheme, I noticed articles were being "reviewed" for days, just sitting there with nothing happening. Personally, I think this was a way to just cut down on the money they'd have to pay me. I've heard rumblings that most of the "writers" on there now are just the editors using false names to make it seem like they've got a huge writing staff, and that they're also farming stuff out to India and paying £5 per article, thus reaping a massive profit.<br /><br />Wouldn't surprise me, to be honest.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693910369975145495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-58059372324399557582014-05-05T12:09:31.190+01:002014-05-05T12:09:31.190+01:00Hi Robert. Yikes! I get the heebies just thinking ...Hi Robert. Yikes! I get the heebies just thinking about the relatively short time I wrote for them. Would be really interested to hear your experiences whenever you decide to air them - keep us updated?sarahsometimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11496705491341205673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-52858600357427308522014-05-05T11:07:48.743+01:002014-05-05T11:07:48.743+01:00I actually think I have a year long story that top...I actually think I have a year long story that tops this but I'm just not sure where to air it out yetAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17551019140694210693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-83949220177280542012014-04-02T06:03:44.832+01:002014-04-02T06:03:44.832+01:00Yes I'm done with WC completely. I came acros...Yes I'm done with WC completely. I came across their site and saw their solicitation for writers so I figured why not give it a try. Fortunately I didn't waste too much of my time there. I think, considering that it seems like they have done wrong by quite a few writers, that they will have their day. Mess with enough people, although it may take some time, all that bad Karma catches up with you. <br /><br />I went ahead and looked into Cracked, and as you said it does seem a much more legit site than WC. I think it would take alot of time and effort, but I do think it would be possible to get published there if one did wish to put in such effort. I thought about it, and I've decided that these list type articles are not what I really want to write. I think eventually one can write "regular" type articles with Cracked, but it would require substantial commitment. Maybe down the road.<br /><br />I never did a blog although I've thought about it. Maybe I will look into it. It would be totally new to me. Right now I'm working on a short story for submission to Glimmer Train. I've written stories for years just never tried to submit. It's only recently that I'm in a situation where I can actually devote the time and effort necessary to have a shot at getting published.<br /><br />Thanks so much for responding. And for the info on WC and Cracked. And I think while maybe you are half joking that blog idea for writers run through the wringer by WC might very well be an interesting one.<br /><br />Perhaps I will decompress here in the future. Thanks again. Bye for now.johnnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02085367758699324865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-17477201049700895782014-03-29T19:02:49.689+00:002014-03-29T19:02:49.689+00:00Hi Johnny,
Sorry to hear about your sucky experie...Hi Johnny,<br /><br />Sorry to hear about your sucky experiences! Sadly, I can't say I'm surprised. If your writing is in any way still associated with WhatCulture, my advice is to get it outta there and get it out YESTERDAY. A company with connections to institutionalised plagiarism that runs lifelong work trials is not a company you want your byline associated with, however hefty the audience they draw. <br /><br />You're right, they should absolutely be held responsible - but the way things stand, we can hope that others like you and I speak up about their experiences. But well done on deciding to take your work elsewhere, and best of luck with that. <br /><br />From what you describe, it sounds a lot like the ol' WC aren't recruiting their writers selectively so they can maximise the content they receive. They'll publish the moneyspinners and disregard anything less than an "A-grade" (certainly, they had me under the impression I had been specially selected for interview and a subsequent work trial, when really they were recruiting anyone and everyone onto an interminable freelance content mill scheme). So, again, with the lack of transparency.<br /><br />I haven't written for Cracked before, but my understanding is that it is certainly a more legitimate website to contribute to (and proponents of the pop-culture list-style model that WhatCulture have so crudely ripped off) - if you can get your pitch picked up, that is. The competition is much stronger, and the publication process is more drawn out for each article (several months in some cases, I've been led to believe) - a result of their strict quality measures. Lists must be original (I think they can't have more than something like two items of overlap with similar lists online). It seems the pay is also much more proportionate to the effort put in.<br /><br />Personally, I'm exhausted with the whole list-type article model and, thanks to WC, get the bad kind of shivers most times I see examples of them, but let me know if you have any success or find somewhere more supportive of your writing - I know these places do exist. :) <br /><br />Do you blog? You're welcome to post to Inky Squiggles if you ever need a place to decompress - I'd certainly love to read about your writing experiences or your thoughts on WhatCulture's editorial practices. In fact, maybe I'll just remodel the blog as a support group for shoddily treated/emotionally scarred WC ex-writers. Lord knows there's a market for it. ;)sarahsometimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11496705491341205673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-17599231382049715412014-03-29T13:57:03.940+00:002014-03-29T13:57:03.940+00:00I'm starting to have grave doubts about Whatcu...I'm starting to have grave doubts about Whatculture. I came across the site some months ago and finally decided to try and apply. Within 48 hours I was pleased to get an email saying I had been accepted (after all they say they only accept less than 25% of applicants). So I wrote one lengthy time consuming "sample" article, which was just to get accepted, but which also could possibly be published on the site. When after I was accepted I sent them an email asking about the possibility of it getting on the site my inquiry was ignored. I forged ahead. I spent another 2 full 8 hour days writing my first "real" article. I submitted it (I know it's obviously a biased opinion, but I do feel it was of a higher quality than most of the drek that is on there. Problem was it didn't quite conform to their "reap the most profits" standard. So I revised it. Another full day of work. Now I can't even log in to the site as a contributor anymore. It says my email is not registered with the site. Puzzling and frustrating to say the least. I sent their "support" department an email. Still waiting to hear back. I have doubts I ever will. It would be nice if this place could be held responsible for their questionable practices and unprofessionalism. I intend to continue to pursue my writing interests elsewhere now. By any chance Sarah are you aware if Cracked is a legitimate place to try and write for? They are soliciting for paid writers on their website. Have you heard anything about them? Best of luck to you.johnnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02085367758699324865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-81803564439837868732013-12-03T13:26:56.443+00:002013-12-03T13:26:56.443+00:00Why thank you, drayfish! It is horrid, and hopeful...Why thank you, drayfish! It is horrid, and hopefully I'll be able to focus on more upbeat topics hereafter. I wouldn't normally implicate any one person or set of people. But given the scale of the issue, I felt a duty to tell my story. <br /><br />Ugh, I hadn't noticed their recruitment page. This seems consistent with the fact that Shaun Munro and TJ Barnard were only said to have been suspended, not dismissed, as you pointed out, and are still listed as associate editors on their staff page: http://whatculture.com/ranks. Since I last checked, they have, insultingly, changed Munro to "Monro" and TJ to "Tom", showing how much credit they give their readers. <br /><br />Both of their profiles and their extensive body of work remains intact (save for the Cracked offenders): http://whatculture.com/author/shaun-monro (again, note the misspelling in the page link) and http://whatculture.com/author/tom-barnard. I wouldn't be surprised if these guys were still writing for the site under alternate names (which I have seen claimed elsewhere. This would certainly be in keeping with Mr Munro's modus operandus, as Ali Gray's piece makes clear). Other articles have since been pointed out to be plagiarised and have not been taken down. <br /><br />I strongly suspect that the article thefts were not news to WhatCulture and you are correct in asserting they still haven't learned their lesson. These guys were editors, after all, and they must surely have been in cahoots. WhatCulture's initial dismissive response to the allegations was also very shady, while their recent recruitment practices are misleading, at best.<br /><br />Thank you again for your kind comments - support from fellow disgruntled writers has been getting me through all this. But then, I would expect no less from a Calvin and Hobbes fan. ;)sarahsometimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11496705491341205673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753790973562531583.post-86167109788440475452013-12-03T07:24:12.341+00:002013-12-03T07:24:12.341+00:00Fantastic article, sarahsometimes - its a shame it...Fantastic article, sarahsometimes - its a shame it has to be about such a thoroughly depressing subject.<br /><br />I am shocked to hear that these kind of misleading practices are still going on - particularly as WhatCulture's editors took such umbrage at the suggestion they were responsible for those original incorrect job descriptions.<br /><br />Perhaps it shouldn't surprise me, though. As of me typing this comment - *months* now after the plagiarism scandal broke - WhatCulture are still using Shaun Munro's face and profile as a recruitment tool for new writers on their 'Why Write for WhatCulture' page. (http://whatculture.com/write/why-write-for-whatculture)<br /><br />It probably sounds like a small oversight, but to me (particularly given what you have spoken of in your experience) it seems a reflection of a larger institutional issue that shows they may still not understand exactly what all the fuss was about, and why that system needs to change, or at the very least be far more honest in its dealings with writers.<br /><br />I'm glad to hear that you're feeling some peace of mind now, though.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your experience, and all the best.<br /><br />p.s. - I love the Calvin & Hobbes Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com