Print vs Web: Why the Two Will Never Be the Same (and why you shouldn’t expect them to be)
April 11, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
This doesn’t have anything to do with the "great divide" between print and web.This post is about how the two aren’t the same, and why we shouldn’t expect the same pay and response time from print and web markets. Because I worked for both print and web, and because I worked inside a busy publishing house, I do feel I’m at least a little qualified to offer some insight. Here’s the thing, print writing and web writing aren’t the same and won’t ever be the same. Thus we shouldn’t expect to be paid the same "market rates" for a quick web article than a piece for a magazine, even if it’s the same type of article. Let me show you what I mean:
Print vs Web: Advertising Dollars
Here’s the thing, most magazines and many newspapers receive thousands of dollars for a single ad, especially the more popular titles. This means more money to pay writers and staff members. Very few websites receive the same advertising dollars. To expect print and web pay to be equal doesn’t make sense seeing as how the budget is completely different. That isn’t to say web writers should expect peanuts, just that they shouldn’t expect the same. While I would love it if we could all earn a dollar a word or $50 per hour for our work, in the web world this isn’t always possible.
Print vs. Web: Response Time
When I worked in publishing, we received hundreds of manuscripts and hundreds more queries each week. To say the Editor in Chief had a slush pile was an understatement. She had a pile next to her desk that almost reached the ceiling some weeks. Once a week the editorial staff would sit on the floor of her office, grab a stack and read. We’d put the really bad stuff in a pile for a form rejection letter, we put the stuff we’d like to learn more about in another slush pile and we took the truly amazing stuff and put in the EIC’s in box. Now, I’m not saying all publishing companies are like this, but it’s easy to see why response time is so long. Plus we planned issues three or four months ahead of schedule – we put a magazine "to bed" months before its cover date.
The beauty of writing for the web is the instant gratification. Our work is published quicker and we’re paid quicker. Sometimes that’s worth not having a bigger paycheck. I’d much rather be paid on schedule and receive a little less money, than get paid three years after I submit an article. I like knowing when I’m going to be paid as opposed to wondering when I’m going to be paid. When I worked in publishing I dreaded answering the phone because I knew it would be another freelancer looking for a late check. With the web, I’m paid on time, all the time. It’s very rare I don’t receive a check when promised. In fact, some web payment is immediate. I’ve never had to call a website’s accounting department.
They Won’t Ever Be the Same Thing
You can compare print and web writing but they’ll never be the same thing. Most magazines and many newspapers are published in large, be-cubicled offices, while many websites are run from home offices or single room outside offices. Print publications employ receptionists, printers, color separators and administrative assistants while most websites and large blogs have a small staff who each handle their own little tasks. Now, websites may grow to become large corporations, but they still won’t be the same as print publications. The budgets will be different, the response time will be different and we can’t hold one up to the same standards as another.
Good article! Even though the two seem like they’d be similar, there are differences – even in the way a writer goes about writing.
@ Katherine: I have to agree with you there….Web surfers want to find the information they need quickly and I think you need to use a different style for this kind of writing than what works for a print market. Short sentences and paragraphs, use subheadings, etc….
Actually, the only problem with this post is the title – it suggests that the type of writing isn’t the same, when it actually discusses the market of writing (which you mention in your first paragraph).
I think the reasoning is skewed, though. The problematic is that the content – the writing – is the same. I agree that print publishing may have higher advertising to share more money with writers, but on the other hand, saying that because print publishers are richer is the only reason writers should be paid more for the same effort doesn’t really hold water.
Also, there are many web content writers who do earn rates similar to the print publishing world. Sales letters command hundreds and thousands of dollars, for example. Website content can command 1$ a word.
More rare? Sure.
But my point is that I don’t believe the product or service should be devalued because of the buyer’s inability to pay.
@James
I agree that the product shouldn’t be valued based on the buyer’s ability to pay. But what DOES have a heavy effect is the dynamic of the marketplace, and the economics of the free and ad-supported Web are such that writers get paid less for what’s published there.
I really like working in the B2B world — it’s where I make most of my money. People who pay big bucks for subscriptions expect to get expert content, and the publishers know they need quality writers to produce it, so they pay!
There is also the incredible ease with which you can set up your own web site. It is cheap, easy, and quick. I don’t suppose any of those words apply to starting up a magazine.
So we have a situation where any monkey can set up a web site, but not all the monkeys can write. So you end up with lots of monkeys scampering around the web offering peanuts to writers.
I review books and in an average week receive 40 to 50 books. I can only imagine how many manuscripts a book agent or editor receives on a weekly basis. I don’t envy them!
I’ve been printed in both forms. Print certainly pays more and I found more enjoyable getting to see my name in print. Web site writing pays more quickly.
Given the mess I ran into today – print media/publishers NEVER pay you until the final edits are done. I start to question how many online editors even bother to edit anything.
One way I wish print and web writing would be more the same is the fundamentals of writing. Too many blogs I see are filled with rambling screeds, poor grammar and sentence structure and way too casual use of scatalogical and offensive language. Even short postings require some thought into what you’re saying and how you’re saying it. In that way, that web is a lot like email — nobody bothers to proofread anymore.
(Daily advertising commentary at craigmcnamara.blogspot.com)
Ann G – May I ask how you got into book reviewing?
This wasn’t meant to be a post about why web writing sucks. Actually some of the best stuff I ever read is from blogs.
@Craig McNamara – I’m probably the worst typo offender ever but I agree we all need to make sure we proofread. I will disagree about blogs though- they’re meant to be a more casual, less structured form of writing. That isn’t to say bloggers shouldn’t proofread, but they don’t have to follow the AP format either.
I think a lot of the short, punchy web articles don’t take nearly the research time that print articles do. Less time/ complication = less pay. I don’t mind that when I’m looking for a quick paycheck.
@Becky- I agree. I do so love the instant gratification web writing provides.
@Fiona – Back in 1999, a friend of mine and I started a reading group with Yahoo. I was asked to review for Myshelf.com and did. After a few months, we both were asked to review books for a site that was about to open. Eventually, I grew tired of the site owner’s opinion that only mystery and romance books were worth reviewing. I opened my own site after contacting publishers and authors with whom I’d developed a working relationship. They encouraged me to strike out and review a mix of genres, so I did. I’ve been reviewing for years now and while there still is no pay, just free books, the connections and friendships I’ve made are incredible.
Ann,
Free books is worth a lot these days. If I could figure out how much I’ve spent on books over the years, I’d probably find out I could of had a mountain cabin and a beach house to vacation in.
Re: Book Reviews
For a while I was doing book reviews for a site called ChildrensLit.com. They don’t pay, but I loved getting a new batch of kids’ books to review (and keep!) every month. If you are looking for a way to get review clips and have any background in teaching, education or kid lit, you might want to look them up.
Deb, it’s nice to see you’ve come to closure on the Web vs Print topic. I know it’s been a hot topic here before. The bottom line is they’re different and always will be. Just as blogs are different than news sites are different than eZines.