Tag Archives: freelancers wanted

Anatomy of a “Don’t Reply” Craigslist Ad

freelance-writing-advice
There are plenty of gigs on Craigslist and other job boards; plenty of them aren’t worth your time. What makes a Craigslist job ad look more like indentured servitude and less like a good use of your time? It’s a combination of low pay mentioned up front along with some unmentioned details that are sure to turn into a drain your time, resources and sanity.

Let’s try to decode one recent CL ad I discovered recently and see why I’d advise you to run away screaming from the job.

First, the ad itself:

Freelance Newspaper Reporters. Reply to: ThisJobBlows@don’treplytome.com

Date: 6/6/06

Local Community weekly newspaper seeks freelance writers. Cover story assignments and public meetings. Writers present community news story ideas and editor to assign stories as well. Newspaper reporting experience preferred. Reporters to provide fast, accurate and compelling copy.

* Compensation: $25 per story, extra $10 for photos
* Telecommuting is ok.


First–there’s the type of publication this ad represents. A community paper is already on thin ice as it is in an age where print publications are threatened by the bad economy and competition from the Internet. But let’s assume for the sake of argument that this particular paper is doing well financially; even so, the phrase “Local community weekly” implies a tight budget and low pay.

Then there’s that line “Cover story assignments and public meetings.” Public meetings can last for HOURS. And that’s just to gather the source material–never mind how long it’s going to take to write the bloody thing.

And then there’s the strong possibility that you aren’t going to be reimbursed for gas or parking when you attend these meetings…add to these things the $25 per article payment and what you have is a seriously losing proposition. But it’s one some people won’t realize is actually a financial drain rather than a benefit until they’ve already paid for the gas, parking and a cup of coffee to keep them from dozing off during those horrendously dull meetings.

It’s not that this publication is running a scam or actively trying to rip you off…but there is only so far you can go by paying a writer a lousy $25 per article…and unless you’re getting some additional compensation for mileage, time spent not dozing off, and cobbling the whole thing together, this type of job ad is one I’d avoid like the plague.