Newspaper expects images for free.

Definitely pursue it when/if they appear in paper. Also, try not to read into the tone of what is written (unless italicized, bold, exclamation point, etc...) it can lead to more anger and frustration over an already tense situation.

My local paper in wales said they would not pay for photos submitted by non-employees and non-agencies so I told them fine, I'll sell it to a rival and did just that!

The photos were not used. I will follow up he the editor when I see her next.

Rich

rhys wrote in post #3450074
My local paper in wales said they would not pay for photos submitted by non-employees and non-agencies so I told them fine, I'll sell it to a rival and did just that!

Which welsh paper did not want to pay?

I ask as I was interested in sending som footy pics to one of them.

No point if they not going to pay

You are seeing a trend more and more about agencies using free media. Our local paper, which is a weekly circulation, has a section for you to upload pictures for print. They make it sound as though you should be as happy as a pig in poop to see your pics in print, but don't compensate for the pics. The fine print releases the photog of any and all rights to the photos. I've contacted them a couple of times with news-worthy pictures that weren't covered by local media. They only pointed me to the free section.

You can see how even the national media wants something for free. CNN was their "I-Reports" that allow you to upload your vidoes to their site and gives a "Courtesy of" nod. It's a trend and it's only going to get worse.

I was shooting for a small, weekly paper for a while. They only paid ten bucks per shot, but it was all kinda' cool stuff, so I said "why not?" and did it.

The Editor changed at some point, and their policy changed. They were still paying only ten bucks per shot, but that was only for photos which landed on the front page. A photo anywhere else in the paper recieved a "by line", and nothing else.

I decided that, while I wasn't looking to get rich, I certainly wasn't to work for nothing. Not having any control on where the story associated with my photo would be run, it was a crap shoot as to whether or not it got on the front page.

The Editor e-mailed me and asked if I would should something, and I responded that I couldn't do it without being paid. "Well, the paper has this policy now", she said. I told her that I understood that she had to work within the policies she'd set at the paper, but that I also had to work within my policy of not shooting for free everytime someone called me and asked me to.

I haven't heard from her in over a year...

I had a Finnish newspaper email me last week asking to use one of my photos of a band playing at a festival there. I got the impression they wanted it for free but I wrote back offering them a very reasonable fee and never heard anything back from them.

So where does the blame for this lie and how do we address it?

In the Uk the BBC and other mainstream news companies ask people to submit pics of new stories to thie site but there is small print"we have full rights to use your pictures anywhere in the world for free" type stuff. Hence,i dont submit anything to them.
I had the chance earlier this year to get some great photos of earthquake damage before the national photographers arrived and when they got there the damaged area was closed.
I spoke to the main national newspaper who offered me £175 ($350) per photo they printed if i was willing to give them exclusive rights.. I agreed and was paid but the other papers that ask general public to sumbit"snapshots" for free got loads of pics from people in the area and none of them got paid a penny and the images were shown across the world....

Today I saw an add on tv devoted to amateurs uploading free videos and photos taken with "your digital camera, or even cell phone" as they put it, "and maybe you'll be lucky enough to get it used on the air or website". What a bunch of crap that is, they stop using the pros to get amateur crap that just isn't going to match up. Plain and simple, don't give stuff away for free! It undercuts the people trying to make a living.

An editor at the local rag asked me to do some pics since I was shooting an event anyways, I told him no problem - pay never even came up in the convo. Submitted and I think 4 were used over the week (2 games, and one week in recap page). Well I mentioned pay to the photo editor after they were in the paper and he immediately gave me the people to call and what I had to do briefing, when I saw him and the original editor that asked me they were happy to inform me of the process of getting paid more so I knew exactly what to do/when/etc. Now I'm shooting a game for them on independence day as well, if pics are worth it then you will get paid for it.