Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse …

I read this article being posted by Jay Gabler at the Twin Cities Daily Planer about, “the brave new world of online journalism and the harsh reality of concert photography.”

Go on, read it.

Let me quote one graf here:

Ironically, with that policy comes a form of independence that traditional journalists didn’t have: instead of one relatively (yes, I know, relatively) well-paid music critic who has to hit the big shows, we have dozens of volunteer critics who cover only what they want and say whatever they want about it. With all due respect to the professional critics who have been personal inspirations to me, there’s a freedom, and a breath of fresh air, in this new world of journalism. The price we pay for that freedom is—well, not getting paid.

Ahem. What was the Janis Joplin line? “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” And if you’re not getting paid, you probably don’t have anything …

Sales pitch: NPPA’s Busines Blitz has a few more stops this fall, get yourself there. Or, better yet, take someone who needs a little, uh, re-education. It’s $10 for NPPA members, $20 for non-members. Which is more than some people are making for their work …